Between Pinterest, HGTV, Instagram, and design magazines, it’s easy to get caught up in what’s trendy and hip and forget what really matters when decorating a home.

So what does matter? 

It varies from person to person. Some care a LOT about Design and keeping up with trends. Others don’t care at all, and want a home that feels authentic to those living in it (two-legged AND four-legged). And then there are others, like myself, who dabble in both.

However, regarding how we FEEL about our home, I’ve discovered two main categories: external and internal.

EXTERIOR VALIDATION OF OUR HOME

Relates to how you think OTHERS view your home

This is how the dining room looked when we viewed our house. It didn’t have our personality (obviously, it wasn’t our home), it didn’t feel like ‘us,’ and the open layout (kitchen/living/dining) wasn’t homey. Until things were changed, I did NOT have company over for dinner (even though we knew they were just coming for my stellar personality and epic cooking skills – wink wink).

A FEW EXAMPLES OF EXTERNAL VALIDATION OF OUR HOME

• Feeling proud to have guests come over.
• Have your guests feel comfortable in your home, even if it isn’t their personal style.
• That whole ‘keepin’ up with the Jones’ thing (those Jones get around more than me in my 20s!)
• Worrying about what ‘other people’ will think before making a purchase (which is what I do before buying underwear.)
• Worrying about what ‘other people’ will think after making a purchase, aka: 2nd guessing your tastes.

INTERNAL VALIDATION OF OUR HOME

Internal validation is how YOU feel about your home

Now, I LOVE our dining room. Even with the open layout floorplan, the space feels more authentic to our tastes and cozier to spend time in!

Our Kitchen & Dining Room Update  / Benjamin Moore White Dove & Urbane Bronze island

A FEW EXAMPLES OF INTERNAL FEELINGS ABOUT OUR HOME

• Having an authentic home that is a reflection of who is living in it (human and furry).
• Feeling comfortable so you can relax in your space.
• Feeling safe and at peace.
• Being proud of it (for yourself).

Personally, I fall smack-dab in the middle of both categories. I desperately need an authentic, calming home in which I am comfortable and at peace. At the same time, I want to feel proud of it (which comes with my job) so that when guests come over, they’re comfortable and impressed with my latest changes (which happen weekly, by the way) and ever-dwindling wine collection.

So, I’m going to use my home as a ‘case study’ to show you what makes OUR house feel like a home…

1. MAKE IT FEEL LIKE HOME WITH PHOTOS

Regarding family photos, ‘too much of a good thing’ only applies if you’re selling your home. If you are NOT selling your home and are decorating it for yourself and your family, there’s NO SUCH THING as ‘too much’ if it makes you feel good!

Here’s our living room before, too many empty walls and nooo personality…

And here it is after new flooring, painted stair railing, new paint color, and our furnishings, and home decor – it’s like a whole new living space…

Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray 75% lighter

Your family is your home. Whether you like four photos or 40, how you pay homage to those you love is a personal matter and should not be subject to public opinion (even your sister’s – tell her to mind her own beeswax…).

2. MAKE IT FEEL LIKE HOME WITH WELL-CHOSEN ART PIECES

Whether it’s Grandma’s old needlework or your collection of waterscapes, what you hang on your walls speaks VOLUMES about your tastes, hobbies, and history.

I’m an Island girl, on the West Coast of Canada. Therefore, it makes sense that I love paintings of waterscapes and forests, as shown by some of the artwork in the dining room…

Benjamin Moore White Dove

And this isn’t just ‘any’ art; it’s created by my dear friend and INSANELY TALENTED neighbor, Ronei (find her website here and INSTAGRAM here.)

Here’s another one of Ronei’s stunners at our lake home. Even though it’s used as an Air B & B sometimes, I still want it to FEEL like us…

Benjamin Moore White Dove

While I certainly tread that line between what is personal and what is ‘decoratively appropriate’ (and no, I don’t mean nudes), I don’t have ONE SINGLE piece of artwork in my home that I don’t love. In fact, I have a strange obsession with trees for some reason, including images of things that USED to be trees, like the totem pole below. I can’t explain or rationalize it (fascination with hardwood, I suppose – wink wink).

Benjamin Moore Cheating Heart painted office door, White Dove trim/walls

In one of our VERY old homes, I loved to display my kid’s artwork and did so via a gallery wall. While they aren’t pumping them out like they used to, my heart still smiles every time I see this photo…

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Gentle Cream

BUT (Kardashian-sized), just because I’ve permitted you to hang your paint by number doesn’t mean you get to go all willy-nilly and hang whatever wherever – there has to be SOME method to the madness!

Why?

Because if you have the RIGHT piece in the RIGHT place, the result is simply magic!

 The Right Height to Hang Artwork

3. MAKE IT FEEL LIKE HOME WITH MEMORABILIA & SENTIMENTAL PIECES

These are the pieces that tell a story. And while memorabilia is often old (like Grandma’s old china cabinet, Grandpa’s fishing rod, or childhood pieces), it can also be more recent. Maybe it’s your heart rock collection (the girls and I have collected hundreds) or that crystal vase from your third wedding. Whatever it is, if it’s important to you, it matters.

It doesn’t need to be an epic story – it just needs to be yours.

Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray 75% lighter

WHAT HAS SENTIMENTAL VALUE IN THE ABOVE PHOTO?

• The yellow canister has Big Grandpa’s ashes in it so he can hear the hockey game.
• While it’s hard to see, the long, narrow wood piece on the console table has sea glass, heart rocks, and a rock/twine thing my friend Ang made for me.
• The framed photo on the console table is of Tim and me, as well as part of the previously shown family gallery wall.
• See the door in the upper hallway with the little hot pink things on it? I wrote on post-it notes for the girls four years ago, stating why I love them. We still have them up!
• The books in the basket on the coffee table are ’boutique-style’ books from my friend, Ang (she’s super thoughtful and knows my heart so well.)
• The toss cushions are from Home Sense – no feels whatsoever other than LOVING them when I saw them!
• While you can’t see it in the photo, I also have a ten-foot-tall indoor plant – a ficus tree. Getting it was an adventure, and we all love Fred the Ficus! Adding natural elements and texture to our home is a BIG part of feeling AT home.

What makes YOU feel at home?

And then there’s Doug, who makes any space feel like home…

4. MAKE IT FEEL LIKE HOME WITH BOOKS

I am a reader and a book hoarder. I love the smell of books, the feel of books, and the look of books. I went out looking for a few of Amy Tan’s books (having just read one and loved it). I found them at my favorite used book haunt and didn’t buy them because the covers were ugly. That’s right, I DO judge a book by its cover.

This is our bookcase from a few years ago…

Benjamin Moore White Dove walls, trims, and Graystone on the board and batten lower walls

If I enjoy a book, I want to keep it forever. I don’t want to loan it, trade it, sell it, give it; I want to KEEP it – I’m like Gollum from the Lord of the Rings – MY PRECIOUSSSSS! I only keep my faves, and I have a few of those…a few hundred. One of my life/house goals is to have a personal book den or library where I have a fireplace and can curl up all day with my favorite read and a bottle glass of wine.

4. MAKE IT FEEL LIKE HOME BY DISREGARDING ‘STYLE’

I have style, alright – MY style, which is called ‘whatever strikes my fancy!’ That’s right, I don’t have a specific personal style, or if I do, it would be called ‘West Coast, homey, organic, modern, with a touch of eclectic’ – that about covers it.

If I had to match everything I bought to a specific style, our home would be a false representation of the people who live in it,

And while I’ve always wanted fake boobs, I don’t want a fake home.

In the above photo, you see Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter 25% darker cabinets, White Dove walls and trim, and Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze on the painted island. Find out how I REALLY feel about our gray kitchen cabinets HERE.

Benjamin Moore White Dove…of course.

Benjamin Moore Knoxville Gray

Benjamin Moore Stormy Sky

Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray is 75% lighter in the above two photos

By the way, the frames on the gallery wall are ALL from Walmart – style doesn’t have to cost a fortune!

WHY I BUY THE THINGS I DO

• Because I love them. Because I go to a store and slip on my drool as I walk by them. Their color, function, or overall look catch my eye.
• Because if I don’t, they will haunt my dreams…for real (I have ADHD, and it’s crazy in there sometimes).
• I like change. While I have my constants (family, dogs, and wine), I love changing my rooms and getting excited about new ideas and treasures, whether from the Thrift shop, Home Sense, or a garage sale!

This set of croquet balls in our bar area in the family room (below)is a good example of, ‘buying something because I love it’. Let’s be honest: I love a nice set of old balls…

OUR PAINT COLOR PALETTE

Thanks to one of my readers, I realized I FORGOT TO ADD MY PAINT COLORS!

Here we go…

• WALLS: Benjamin Moore White Dove, although there’s still some Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray 75% lighter left in a few areas (entryway)
• TRIMS: Benjamin Moore White Dove
• KITCHEN ISLAND & PAINTED STAIR RAILINGS: Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze
• KITCHEN CABINETS: Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter 25% darker
• GRAY PAINTED DOORS: Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter 50% darker (yes, I’m clearly a weirdo who likes to mess around with colors)
• BOARD & BATTEN: Benjamin Moore Graystone
• POWDER ROOM: Benjamin Moore Stormy Sky
• GUEST BEDROOM: Benjamin Moore Knoxville Gray
• DARK PAINTED DOOR: Benjamin Moore Cheating Heart

MORE TIPS FOR MAKING A HOUSE INTO YOUR HOME

Aside from the touchy-feely stuff (which Tim ALWAYS loves), here are a few ideas to consider…

1. While the color of your front door on the outside needs to MATCH the outside, it’s awesome if it winks toward the color palette INSIDE your home, too!
2. Pay attention to your entryway. It often reflects the mood/vibe of the rest of your home.
3. Add textured pieces, including area rugs, toss cushions, and drapes to soften spaces. Rooms are FULL of hard edges, and these pieces help soften them and absorb sound.
4. Consider the TEMPERATURE of your light bulbs – Kelvins can make all the difference between a cold and uninviting space and one that looks inviting!
5. Add artwork, but the odd bare wall is important, too – let your eyes rest. And don’t forget to hang it at the right height!
6. ADD PLANTS. I don’t have a green thumb, but a few key plants make ALLLLL the difference for a lived-in look (go fake if you have to.
7. Don’t let the dumb stuff detract from the important stuff. Sometimes, the important pieces get buried in the ‘every day’ of papers, Kleenex boxes, remote controls, and more. Once in a while, visit each of your home’s surfaces and see if the things that matter to you the most are in their glory, or halfway to their grave.
8. A little clutter goes a long way. This is one I struggle with. I love minimal clutter; however, when I go to friend’s and family’s homes, I actually feel pretty darn comfortable when there’s some clutter around – when everything isn’t perfect! I mean, there’s DEFINITELY a tipping point, but a little mess can be endearing – you have to LIVE in your home!

WANNA READ MORE ABOUT DECORATING YOUR HOME?

I have a great series of blog posts about Creating a Timeless Home. For those inclined, most of these are more design-related and are full of GREAT tidbits and tips.

READ MORE

The Ultimate Guide to Paint Colors & Undertones

6 Budget-Friendly Home Update Ideas

The Best Medium-Depth Blue Paint Colors

The 6 Best Warm Off-White Paint Colors

NEED HELP?

Check out my Online Colour Consulting Services

I originally wrote this blog post in 2018. I ripped it apart, rebuilt it, and updated it in 2023 based on our home now!

The post How to Turn Your House Into a Home: A Case Study appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Black has been a popular choice for faucets, light fixtures, and hardware for several years now. But is black still TRENDY or is it on the way out? Is black TIMELESS or is it just a fad?

The answer isn’t easy.

If you ask me (which you are, by the way), black is still a good choice. While it’s TRENDY on some surfaces (bathroom fixtures, door hardware and kitchen faucets), it’s TIMELESS on others. While its popularity is SLIGHTLY waning in certain styles of homes, it’s going strong in others.

What does this mean?

There was a time (like in the last five years) when you could go into any newly built ‘average‘ home and find black on EVERY SINGLE metal finish, top to bottom. And while you’ll still see a lot of it, many builders and homeowners are shifting their sights back to the brighter end of things – polished nickel, chrome and a dab of gold here and there.

HOWEVER, go into any ‘modern farmhouse style‘ home, and black (and gold) are still going STRONG. I don’t see this trend abating until the modern farmhouse trend itself starts taking a BIG back seat (it’s taking a small one right now).

Right now, would I do an ENTIRE HOME in black metal?

HECK no. 

When designing or renovating a home that can last through various trends/owners, you need to consider VERSATILITY and FLEXIBILITY. So, let’s look at the WHAT, WHY, and HOW to see what might work for you.

MAKE A PLAN FOR YOUR METAL FINISHES

YES, black is still trendy for metal finishes in a home. However, for the sake of future trends and owners, you should make a PLAN for your metal finishes.

Why?

Because not only do you want there to be a purposeful flow from room to room, but you also want to make sure you protect your investment so that it holds its esthetic value as long as possible.

This is even MORE important if you have a home that isn’t built to be a specific style of home, i.e., an authentic farmhouse or mid-century modern style home.

Why?

When it comes to homes that are/were BUILT to be a very particular style (i.e., a mid-century home), it’s more about what suits the home’s style and what’s authentic to it. In other words, trends matter much less.

This DOESN’T apply to a home that is STYLED to look mid-century or modern farmhouse, but fundamentally, ISN’T that particular style.

Why?

Because if you take away the decor and some design features, it’s a regular home, one that’s styled based on current trends or a homeowner’s personal tastes. Insert new trends or new owners, and it can be hard to transition from the last ‘best thing since sliced bread’ into something new.

Giving yourself some FLEXIBILITY with your metal finishes, rather than committing to one finish EVERYWHERE will give you (or a new homeowner) flexibility in the future. 

How do you give yourself flexibility when it comes to metal finishes? You make a plan, starting with mixing metals.

WHAT? Do you mean you can use different metal finishes throughout your home? 

You bet your root scootin’ booty you can! Try to stick with the 80/20 rule overall – 80% one, 20% another (this topic is a blog post unto itself).

THE BEST METAL MIXES

Since our focus today is on black finishes, let’s see which metals it can accommodate…

• BLACK & GOLD
• BLACK & OIL RUBBED BRONZE
• BLACK & POLISHED NICKEL
• BLACK & CHROME

In today’s market, you can do ANY OF THE ABOVE combos without pigeon-holing yourself. 

Long story short (as usual), black goes with everything. However, the same can’t be said of the other finishes. Don’t even TRY to talk me into oil-rubbed bronze and polished chrome as a great combo – woooof. Polished nickel/chrome and gold? You do you, boo, but I’ve NEVER been a fan.

In fact, many of us moved into homes built in the 90s, only to find a home FULL of shiny brass/gold. And what was the next metal finish trend in the early 2000s? There were two, actually, polished nickel and oil-rubbed bronze. And did either of these mix well with GOLD?

HECK to the NO.

Hellooooo 1998!

This means that if you didn’t want your 1990s home to be sitting in design purgatory as you updated your home bit by bit, you had to change ALLLLL of your metal finishes at the same time. That’s some serious coin.

The difference with black is that it TRANSITIONS well with other metals, and in fact, ALL metal finishes. This means you can mix and match now AND later with no flames licking at your heels.

And while there’s no fool-proof plan that will last through every trend or every homeowner’s tastes, giving yourself some room to move is a smart choice.

BTW, my blog is 100% powered by my E-design clients and their photos. Thank you to everyone for sending them in – you make my colourful little world go round! 

However, I’d like to take a minute (seriously, nothing I say takes just a minute), to focus on bathrooms…

THE BEST METAL FINISH FOR BATHROOMS (TO STAY TRENDY & TIMELESS)

No matter the trend cycle or century, chrome is a clean and simple approach for a bathroom and the one that’s MOST likely to appeal to the masses.

Sherwin Williams Pure White

Bathroom fixtures are the BIGGEST PITA to change. For this reason, I would stick with what’s timeless and simple and NOTHING is more timeless than chrome; whether you personally love it or not. And I SURE AS HECK wouldn’t do a mix – STICK TO ONE FINISH in the bathroom. Mixing finishes in a small space like this (ie. black faucet/light and chrome shower fixtures) can look poorly planned and disconnected unless done CAREFULLY by a professional.

Almost EVERY choice is timeless in this space – smart money! 

And again, don’t get me started on gold and chrome; this is a trend I NEVER understood, not in the 90s and not now (as it’s somehow been resurrected – SACRILEGE!).

HOWEVER, If you really want black fixtures in a bathroom and are WORRIED about trends, consider black for your smallest bathroom – ideally a powder room, as it has the least fixtures (same goes for gold).

Benjamin Moore Super White

Sherwin Williams High Reflective White

But you have to admit, this looks pretty fab too…

And hey, don’t kill the well-intentioned Ginger messenger; I’m just trying to help. Heck, we just built a home and I did black in TWO BATHROOMS, which leads to our next topic (because I don’t stop talking in real-life either).

THE EXCEPTIONS

As mentioned earlier, some homes are exceptions to the rule because they’re ACTUALLY a particular home style. For example, a home that’s a farmhouse that’s ALSO decorated in ‘farmhouse style’ is authentic. A home that’s decorated in a mid-century style that’s ACTUALLY a mid-century style home will withstand the test of time MUCH better as it relates to trends.

Take this next room, for example. While cream and beige were NOT trends when this photo was taken, they look good because they suit the home (one of my FAVE clients ever).

The Best Beige Paint Colours for Today’s MODERN Home

In fact, if a particular finish in these homes HAPPENS to be trendy, it’s more incidental than purposeful.

This is one reason why I wasn’t afraid to do all black in two of our bathrooms at our lake home…

Benjamin Moore White Dove & Sherwin Williams Network Gray

The vanity came with this hardware – I’ll be changing it to black

4 Ideas to Give a Small Bathroom Some Personality! 

Because it’s a lake home, there’s more flexibility and forgiveness given to things that may/may not fall outside of what’s trendy. I also did a lot of shiplap and even painted some surfaces GRAY. In other words, I went for a few trends that are ON THEIR WAY OUT. However, because it’s a lake home, certain choices will ALWAYS suit it, regardless of trends. 

Simply put, some looks transcend the trend cycle because they authentically suit the home.

I’m also a big believer in loving the home you live in, and if you have the luxury of being able to CHANGE things that become outdated in the future, then why not do what speaks to you?

PRACTICE MODERATION ON A LARGE-SCALE

One of the many things I love about this next bathroom is the CHOICES my client made in hard finishes…

This is a GREAT mix of transitional & modern farmhouse that will transition easier in the future! Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace

• all of the hardware is currently TRENDY and SUITS the subtle modern farmhouse style of the space
• take away the shiplap and black fixtures and you still have TRANSITIONAL BONES that can be shifted into the next trend

Because practising moderation doesn’t just apply to metal finishes, it applies to EVERYTHING. If you don’t commit too hard to one particular trend/colour/style, you leave yourself open to easier and more affordable changes in the future.

SUMMARY OF THE BEST METAL FINISHES FOR TODAY’S MODERN HOME

If I could only pick ONE METAL FINISH for each of these areas with LONGEVITY in mind, this is what I would choose…

• MAIN LIGHT FIXTURES: black
• FIXTURES IN SECONDARY ROOMS (not including bathrooms): BLACK or SILVER (chrome OR highly polished nickel)
• KITCHEN FAUCET: polished nickel
• HARDWARE ON CABINET DOORS: polished nickel
• INTERIOR DOOR HARDWARE: black
• EVERYTHING IN A BATHROOM: chrome
• EXTERIOR LIGHTS: black

READ MORE

How to Create a Timeless Home – 4-Part Series

The 11 Best Warm Neutrals That AREN’T BEIGE!

How to Update Oak Cabinets WITHOUT Paint

Are Gray Paint Colours Still Trendy for Cabinets, Walls & Exteriors?

Is Beige Back? Is Beige…dare, I say – TRENDY?

Are White Cabinets, Walls & Exteriors Still Trendy

NEED HELP?

CHECK OUT MY ONLINE PAINT COLOR CONSULTING

Chat soon,

The post Is Black Still a Trendy Finish for Lights, Hardware & Plumbing Fixtures? appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Is your fireplace mantel being eaten alive by framed photos, candle holders, and that old brass clock? (oh, you are so busted…)

It’s time to crack the whip and get your mantel into shape with a few little things we decorators call steps or friendly guidelines. These guidelines have been created to keep those of you in check who think the mantel is a platform for everything small, shiny, glass, and papery, with a wick, that holds flowers and that doubles as a photo frame, cheese grinder, as well as a keepsake from that trip to Mexico in 1974.

So, I have a challenge for you…

TAKE IT ALL OFF, BABY!

That’s right, I want you to take every single little thing off of your mantel, grab a glass of wine, and start reading!

Please keep in mind, I rely 99.9% on my Online Colour Consulting client’s photos for examples, so I make do with what I have! Please be kind if things aren’t perfectly magazine-ready!

STEP 1: PLACE YOUR FOUNDATION & ANCHOR PIECES

Every good mantel display will have a foundation and an anchor(s).

FOUNDATION PIECE

This is the piece that goes on the wall above the fireplace and can be one of the following:

• television
• mirror
• artwork
• oversized wall clock
• 2-3 pieces of layered/staggered artwork
• metalwork

If you choose artwork as your foundation, remember, it will set the theme for your space. For example, if you have a beach-themed piece of artwork, your room will end up being beach-themed, as dictated by your key piece. Style is one thing, but an actual theme can be limiting. If you choose artwork, think abstract if you want flexibility.

You also want your foundation piece hung at the right HEIGHT! Read HERE for tips on that (this link’s also in the READ MORE section at the end of the blog post if you just want to keep reading for now).

ANCHORS

A mantel needs one or two anchor pieces. The anchor piece is the KEY piece on the mantel that ISN’T the foundation piece that catches your eye the most, usually via its size/bulk.

If you use one anchor piece, it often goes in the middle or on one end. If you use two anchor pieces, you would use one on either end of your mantel. You can also use DIFFERENT ITEMS as your two anchors using BALANCE. For example, you could put a vase with flowers on one end of the mantel and two smaller candleholders on the other with a small decorative item in front of them – as long as their visual weight is similar to that of the vase.

IN GENERAL, WHAT DECORATIONS DO YOU PUT ON A MANTEL?

• candleholders
• smaller artwork
• decorative box or container
• stack of books
• vase with/without flowers in it
• plant
• mantel clock
• home decor pieces

In the above display, the candle holders are the anchors – everything else on the mantel is secondary. However, consider how the visual FLOW would be if you were to reverse the position of the candle holders, so the tallest was to the inside, and the shorter was to the outside; the energy would flow into the rest of the room, rather than into the center of the mantel!

A mirror or clock is more unisex when it comes to decorating as it will allow you to change your theme seasonally – or even weekly if you’re OCD like me! (Oh, I make it sound so thrilling, don’t I…) Accessories are fun, easy, and affordable to change, whereas foundation pieces tend to involve a bit more money, so they don’t get changed as often.

Sherwin Williams Kilim Beige

In the above photo, the TV is the foundation piece, and the two plants/holders are the anchors, creating a SYMMETRICAL display  (which you’ll learn about shortly).

In this next photo, you’ll see a great foundation piece with two anchors and one filler in the middle (and another example of balance). I might just reverse the candle positions, putting the short one on the outside and the tall one on the inside.

Next up, the balance between the two wood candle holders/candles and the vase/branches is great (I might just trim those branches back a wink on the right side)…

If you don’t have a foundation piece and anchors, buy them; you’ll need them!

BTW, if you need a QUICK brush-up on terms, check this out…

The 3 Main Rules of Accessorizing and Decorating: A Quick Read

STEP 2:  CHOOSE YOUR COLOR PALETTE

When choosing a colour palette, consider the following elements…

• The colors in your foundation piece. If your foundation is simple (i.e., framed mirror), look to your room and fireplace surround (tile/stone) for inspiration.
• Texture (branches, plants, woven items, wood, fabric, books).
• Sheen (vases, frames, accessories).
• One or two main accent colors that visually connect with items in the rest of your room.

Whether inspired by your foundation piece, fireplace brick/stone, or other accents in your room, choose a palette that works with your space. If you have a versatile foundation piece, you can change your color palette seasonally or whenever you get your period, if you’re like me.

STEP 3: CHOOSE BALANCE OR SYMMETRY

People often think that symmetry and balance are the same things. In fact, while they have the same ‘end result’, they each go about it in very different ways.

SYMMETRICAL MANTEL DISPLAY

A symmetrical mantel, if divided in half, would have the exact same thing on the left as on the right – so not only will both sides ‘visually’ be the same, but they will also visually ‘weigh’ the same.

Aside from the small detail on the right, the mantel above shows a symmetrical and simple mantel display, the same as the photo below…

While it isn’t a mantel, this next photo shows a symmetrical display with the two lamps and filler piece in the middle…

The waiting room at Eddins Counselling

A BALANCED MANTEL DISPLAY

This next photo is a great example of a balanced arrangement with the foundation piece and anchors in place…

See this lovely country home here

A balanced mantel, if divided in half, would have different things on the left and right of the center, so the two sides will LOOK different from each other, but the ‘visual weight’ of these items will be comparable to each other. This means one side won’t look heavier than the other regarding accessories and colour/texture placement.

(Visual weight means that items might be different from each other in size and colour, but they carry the same ‘visual weight’ so that one doesn’t appear stronger than the other)

STEP 4: CREATE DECORATIVE TRIANGLES

When accessorizing your fireplace mantel, try to make decorative triangles. These triangles will encourage your eyes to take in the display in a way that appears effortless, with a seamless flow.

There are TWO types of decorative triangles you can create…

THE MAIN TRIANGLE

The main triangle creates the overall flow of your arrangement as a WHOLE, as your eye will take in the top and general outer edges of each main piece.

Your main triangle has a peak with two sides. In this next example, the peak is at the top of the artwork, and the two sides go down to the two arrangements. To encourage the triangular shape, you COULD reverse the placement of the candlesticks (still keeping them on the left side of the mantel, though), so the short one and the books are on the left, and the tall one is on the right as right now, your eye travels INwards to the center of the mantel, rather than following the natural line of the triangle shape.

SECONDARY DECORATIVE TRIANGLES

Secondary decorative triangles establish flow on the lower corners of your main triangle. An effective secondary triangle might be made up of the following:

• One taller item is placed at the back.
• One medium-height item is placed on one side of the tall piece.
• One short item is placed on the other side of the small piece.

As shown in this example above, the left-hand side is an awesome secondary triangle using the anchor pieces, whereas the vase is a single anchor that speaks for itself!

STEP 5:  FILL IN THE BLANKS…SLOWLY

Sometimes, all a fireplace needs are its foundation and anchor pieces. Add items slowly and see which ones ADD to the display and which add too MUCH. Consider stacking, layering, groups of three, and triangles when placing your items – less is often more, especially with mantel decor!

Let’s break down this next mantel, to see how we could improve its flow…

There are some GREAT bones in place here, but I DO see room for improvement without buying anything new!

• Keep the clock where it is; it’s awesome
• Keep the vase/branches where they are; just move them to the right about 3 inches
• Leave the speaker; in the real world, we do need to accommodate things like this!
• Move the candlesticks/candles to the right (approx 5 inches from the right edge/side)
• The framed photo behind the candlesticks, move it so that it’s to the LEFT of the candlesticks, acting like a layered backdrop
• Take the ANTIQUES sign away. It’s too big and adds too much visual interest. I’d take away the vertically framed photo as well
• Move the horizontally framed photo to the right of the vase; its frame flows better overall than the other one. You could TRY placing the vertical one behind and slightly to the right of the horizontal frame, but I think it would be too much
• Put a small decorative item in front, between those two pieces
• Notice how the sage green of the florals ties into the candles – awesome, this is what I want to see!

And when it comes to mantels, you can try REVERSING everything. Take a photo of your mantel all done, and then swap everything to the other side and see how it feels; you might be surprised how it changes the flow of things!

THE BIGGEST MANTEL DECORATING TIP

Do you want the BEST TIP for adding home decor to your mantel?

Aside from learning how to decorate your mantel with the above tips, go on Pinterest and search mantels, mantel decor, fireplace decor, etc… I’ve found this to be the BEST way to get the look I want, by seeing a fireplace display I like and mimicking it with my own pieces or newly purchased ones.

Sometimes, NOTHING but a foundation piece is the best choice of all! 

HOW TO ADD HOME DECOR TO YOUR MANTEL (ACCESSORIZE)

STEP 1: Place your foundation piece first and anchor pieces second

STEP 2: Choose a colour palette that gets you excited, and that reflects your style and tastes

STEP 3: Decide whether you want balance or symmetry

STEP 4: Create decorative triangles (one main one and two or more small ones)

STEP 5: Fill in the blanks…carefully

READ MORE

The Right Height to Hang Artwork Above Anything – Including a Mantel!

The Ultimate Guide to Paint Colors & Undertones

6 Budget-Friendly Ideas to Update Your Home

5 Ideas to Update Your Fireplace

How to Decorate a Bookshelf: 4 Guidelines to Follow

Need Help? 

Check out my E-Books and Online Color Consulting Services

Chat soon,

Originally written in 2015, updated in 2023

The post How to Decorate & Style a Mantel: 5 Easy Steps appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

If I had an extra twoonie (being Canadian) for every one of my clients who wanted to ‘de-beige’ their Tuscan-vibe home, I’d still be doing what I love – I’d just have some serious coin jingle-janglin’ in my pockets.

And while beige is starting to trend again, there are MANY of you still trying to DE-BEIGE your beige-on-beige home – and it isn’t always an easy transition.

So how do you update a beige home? How do you add gray, greige, or taupe when your home is top-to-bottom beige?

You keep reading…

First of all, DID YOU KNOW that beige is coming back? That’s right; beige is said to be the ‘gray of 2023’. In fact, I have blog posts talking about these new, modern beiges…but they’re not what you’re here for.

Second, because beige is coming back doesn’t mean you must love it. And as I alluded to above, I consult DAILY with clients desperate to add some balance to their beige-on-beige homes.

And like them, you might’ve lived with beige SO long that it’s actually coming back in style. 

So, if you’re ready for a fresh start with a cooler approach, I hear you and am here to help.

1. THE BEST GRAY, GREIGE, & TAUPE PAINT COLORS TO GO WITH BEIGE

If your home is beiged-out, there’s a moderate chance you can paint your walls a cooler color. However, it might not be the cool color of your dreams.

Why?

Beige finishes are fussy about their color partners. Often, my clients try to integrate the WRONG cool colors when the right ones are just a few tweaks away (that would be tweaks, not twerks, you crazy animal).

And while I’ve written a detailed blog post about this exact topic (read it, it’s awesome – and yes, I am a bossy lil thang), the gist is that…

Warm finishes don’t love being partnered with colors that are cooler and lighter than them.

Suppose you’ve been looking at colors like Benjamin Moore Collingwood, Gray Owl, Sherwin Williams Repose Gray, and Agreeable Gray. You like these colors, but the finishes in your home don’t agree with you. In this case, they probably aren’t working because they’re not dark enough for your finishes.

This might not be what you want to hear, my dear, but if your current beige finishes are staying-put, AND you want things to look good, you may want to adjust your expectations (said with love, kindness, and a splash of wine for liquid reinforcement).

This backsplash is orange-pink beige.

FUN FACT: Many of my clients refer to their ‘warm-toned finishes’ as being cream or tan. MOST of the time (i.e., 9o+%), these ‘warm-toned finishes’ are actually beige with orange-pink undertones.

When choosing your new paint color, the best place to start is with LRV. While it depends on your home and its particular finishes, a great LRV to start with is 55. If you don’t know what LRV is, it will ROCK your world more than Dwayne Johnson.

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Paint Colors Using LRV

And without getting into which UNDERTONES best suit your particular blend of finishes (as most people have more than one beige finish to accommodate), check out the following:

• Sherwin Williams Argos
• Sherwin Williams Requisite Gray
• Sherwin Williams Versatile Gray
• Benjamin Moore Silver Song (review coming soon)
• Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray
• Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter (definitely hit and miss)
• Sherwin Williams Perfect Greige
• Sherwin Williams Amazing Gray

Again, I can’t for sure tell you the above will work without seeing your room, but they’re a place to start. When comparing your samples, see how they relate to each beige finish in your home, your exposure, trim, and any other hard or soft finishes that need to be considered.

If you’re heading to the paint store to grab samples, stop there! Please check out SAMPLIZE Peel & Stick, an AFFORDABLE, EASIER, and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY choice.

Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE

2. CONSIDER GRAY, GREIGE, OR TAUPE FURNITURE & ACCENT PIECES

If the above colors aren’t jibing with your space, listen reaaallly closely, and you might hear your home whispering that it wants a modern beige paint color. However, even without cool-toned walls, there are still some great ways to add balance to your space.

FURNITURE PIECES

Depending on which best suits your space, consider furniture pieces that are DARKER THAN your beige finishes; they act as ‘accents’ rather than direct competition.

The warm gray chairs in this eating area below ground the space while letting the off-white cabinets and beige walls speak to the finishes in the room…

Sherwin Williams Balanced Beige

ACCENT PIECES

Rather than painting your walls the wrong color, get great visual value out of accent pieces in cool hues of gray, greige, taupe, blue, violet, and green.

As shown in this next room, you can also balance a beige room with other NEUTRALS, including warm white and black…

3. ADD SOME COOL CONTRAST WITH A COOL-TONED KITCHEN ISLAND

Painting your island (or bathroom vanity) is a GREAT way to add some cool balance to your space. In fact, you can make more of an impact with a well-chosen accent color than you will with a ‘half-decently’ chosen cool wall color.

This next kitchen was ‘next-level beige’ with its saturated golden tones…

Sure, in the ideal world, you’d replace one or more of the hard surfaces. But in the REAL world, money talks, and paint listens…

We went beige on the cabinets to coordinate with the room and its needs (Benjamin Moore Maritime White). This is what the kitchen wanted. HOWEVER, we did a beautiful dark green-gray on the island to add a cooler element. While a lighter version of this would fight with the warm finishes, this darker shade ‘accents’ the space.

With its beige/gold-inspired granite countertop, this next space looks much more modern with the painted island and new hardware (which I bet they catch their pockets on ALL THE TIME!)…

Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze is a beautiful contrast to this warm granite countertop

The Best Paint Colors for Kitchen Islands & Bathroom Vanities

4. EMBRACE THE WARMTH OF YOUR ROOM WITH UPDATED DECOR & FURNISHINGS

Don’t be afraid to lean into your home. Almost any beige-on-beige space can look updated with the right furnishings, decor, and texture!

In the above room, I would change the art above the sofa to something a bit lighter/fresher. As for furnishings, what’s there looks beautiful. Find pieces with fewer curves and slightly cleaner lines if you want a more modern look. Dark greige accents would also add a nice balance/dynamic to this space.

This next space has ALLLL the potential to be beautiful. In a space like this, it can be about shifting to a lighter, more modern beige. A lighter shade would shift the energy in this space while still suiting it and keeping things homey and inviting…

5. FIND A TRANSITIONAL COLOUR BETWEEN GRAY & BEIGE

Some rooms can humor a ‘happy medium’ colour that bridges the beige and gray worlds without committing 100% to either.

Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray (below) is a great transitional colour. As you can see, it works with the beige/polished travertine of the fireplace surround…

The 11 BEST Warm Neutral Paint Colours – THAT AREN’T BEIGE!

Realistically, the fireplace surround wants a WARMER color. However, in considering the sectional and area rug as well, Edgecomb Gray is the perfect happy medium.

The stone fireplace in this next living room has slightly cooler hues but a few warmer stones that gladly accommodate Edgecomb Gray…

FULL Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray

6. PAINT AN ACCENT WALL OR INTERIOR DOOR A COOL COLOR

Painting a smaller area with a cool paint colour is one of my FAVOURITE WAYS to add balance to a beige-inspired room.

These small-scale ideas work because on your main walls, you can listen to your home and its specific (and probably warmer) needs. You can then have some FUN and explore cooler hues for an accent wall or the inside of a main door. For example…

• INSIDE OF THE FRONT DOOR (often suits navy blue-hues)
• ACCENT WALL (a wide range of options, depending on the surrounding finishes)
• Again, the KITCHEN ISLAND is a great place for an accent (dark green-gray often suits beige finishes)

While this next kitchen isn’t remotely overwhelmed by beige, the soft shade of green-gray on the back door is a gorgeous accent to this ‘mostly warm’ palette…

And check out how this blue kitchen island adds to the palette of this 1990s kitchen…

And don’t you worry about whether accent walls are trendy or not. A well-placed, well-chosen accent color can be great for almost ANY home…

The above bathroom is SUPER beige, as is the wall behind the headboard, making Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze a beautiful accent!

Where to Paint an Accent Wall & What Color Should It Be?

At the end of the day, the above colour tips are great for nodding toward your personal preferences without sacrificing the needs of your home.

READ MORE

The #1 SECRET to Coordinating Warm & Cool Colors

The Best MODERN Beige & Tan Paint Colors

6 Budget-Friendly Home Update Ideas

The Best Warm Neutral Paint Colors THAT AREN’T BEIGE! 

NEED HELP?

CHECK OUT MY ONLINE PAINT COLOR CONSULTING!

Chat soon,

The post 5 IDEAS: HOW TO DE-BEIGE YOUR HOME appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Improving your home’s curb appeal is a great way to add value, whether it’s financial (for potential buyers/home staging) or emotional (for staying put). And it’s not about doing glorious landscaping with ponds large enough to skinny dip in (although the neighbors would be impressed); it’s about making small changes which, on the whole, create the illusion of a well-maintained, cared for, and modernized property.

1. EXTERIOR UPDATE: PAINT YOUR FRONT DOOR (& GARAGE DOOR)

As mentioned in my 5 Budget-Friendly Home Staging Update Ideas (I’ll link it at the end of this blog post, don’t worry), painting the exterior of your front door is a quick win and the most obvious update idea…

Painting your front door adds personality and style to your home’s exterior without a huge monetary commitment (a quart of paint will do it!). And don’t pick a front door color that YOU love; pick the color that best suits your exterior finishes, including stone, brick, pathway, roof, and siding.

NEED HELP WITH YOUR FRONT DOOR? I’ve got a package for that. 

The 9 Best Front Door Paint Colors

The Best Teal and Blue Paint Colours for Your Front Door

What Are The Best Paint Colours for a Front Door?

A QUICK EXTERIOR CHECKLIST (MORE IDEAS)

• Add a simple welcome mat. The average home best suits a natural fiber mat without writing (i.e., the mats that say ‘Hello’…hard no). The exceptions are homes with a unique character or location, i.e., a family lake home. If you’re staying in your home (not selling), have seasonal fun with decorative mats.
• Give your worn-out patio or deck a fresh lick of paint or pressure-wash it.
• Don’t forget about your rusty ole mailbox – grab a can of spray paint or find a new one that coordinates with your exterior light fixtures.
• Wipe down your gutters, especially those on the front of your home. This isn’t as vital with dark gutters, but white gutters can look pretty darn nasty (did you know you can paint your gutters? I DID!).

And don’t forget your garage door! Updating it with fresh paint or decorative hardware is a great way to improve curb appeal without breaking the bank. This next exterior shows the garage door at my Mom and Dad’s. They added Home Depot hardware, which cost less than $50!

Affordable garage door hardware sets are available at Home Depot! 

2. EXTERIOR UPDATE: YOUR LIGHT FIXTURES

I’ve seen my fair share of moth-infested, rusted, crusty, nasty ole light fixtures. Enough is enough – time to change it up, folks! Did you know Home Depot has a two-pack of exterior light fixtures for under $100? Black metal, clear glass, simple lines – perfect!

Are these the best for a more modern home? No. However, these will do the trick if your home is a bit older and just needs a fresh new perspective.

Hampton Bay 2 Pack

Or add a little modern farmhouse style with this gorgeous light…

Belleair Bluffs Exterior Light 

This is a popular exterior lighting choice as well (By the way, Edison bulbs aren’t trendy in the interior of homes anymore, but are still moderately okay on exteriors)…

4 PACK OF EXTERIOR LIGHTS

Or maybe you’d like this slightly more traditional, slightly Craftsman, but still updated look…

Marshall Wall Lantern

3. EXTERIOR UPDATE: NEW ADDRESS NUMBERS

Rusty old brass numbers won’t do the exterior of your home any favors in the style department. For someone who has never been to your house, the house numbers will be the first thing they look at – whether it’s a friend coming over, a real estate agent, or a prospective buyer, make a good first impression!

Address plates like this don’t suit every home – I usually prefer just numbers

A cheapie but goodie will cost you about $6 per number. Something a bit more fancy schmancy will probably be between $12 – $15 – there’s no need to spend any more than that. If your old numbers were on a diagonal and your paint hasn’t faded, consider placing them vertically or horizontally, which is a more modern application.

Or you can be like me and grab a can of spray paint! I gave my house numbers a cleaning and three fresh coats of black paint – they look brand new (photos TBA)!

4. EXTERIOR UPDATE: REFRESH YOUR LAWN & GARDEN BEDS

Unless you live on a large property with an obscene amount landscaping (mine is definitely borderline), it shouldn’t cost too much to freshen up your garden beds. At $6 a bag (for mulch), you can spend under $50 and get an AMAZING amount of work done. You’re not looking to add a foot to each bed – just looking to freshen up the top surface without mixing it into the old stuff; it usually takes three to five inches to do the job (that’s what she said…).

Just as home decor, accessories, and personal items can clutter the INSIDE of your home, leaves, yard shrapnel, and ragged edges clutter the outside of your home.

DECLUTTER your garden beds, and give your plants some room to breathe! 

Leaves: The environmentally friendly choice is to leave leaves on your garden beds and lawn over the winter – this protects your plants and provides a place for bugs and bees to hide. Personally, I have other ways to save the environment. I plant TONS of bee-friendly flowers, but I like my garden beds TIDY!

5. EXTERIOR UPDATE: TRIM YOUR BUSH

Spend a few hours on your shrubs, and you’ll see an immediate improvement in your curb appeal…

This front patio is just BEGGING for a little bistro set! 

Trim back overgrown hedges, pull out any plants that aren’t thriving, pull those damned weeds, and do some decluttering, like you would in your house. Find out when the appropriate pruning season is for major trees or shrubs. (The internet is a WONDERFUL thing, isn’t it?)

I love this home’s charm and thoughtful, English garden-style plantings!

By the way don’t be afraid to remove overgrown bushes past their prime – not everything is worth saving! When we bought our home, we had to take out four truckloads of bushes and trees that had lived their best life (we saved TONS, though). Here are a few of them…

California Lilacs have a short lifespan – approx 12-15 years. These were 15 years old and were rotting from the inside out (sadly).

And look at it now…

And using inspiration from the above photo, I’ll share a bonus idea, just for sharts and giggles…

6. EXTERIOR UPDATE: ADD CONCRETE CURB

This idea is a bonus because it’s EXPENSIVE.

Do you struggle to keep your garden beds contained? Are the edges constantly barfing over into your lawn? Do you have clumps of grass growing in your garden beds? I hear you. We had the same struggles, so saved up our scheckles for concrete curbing, which is a HUGE update to our already beautiful yard…

The original homeowners did their best, but it’s a LOT of yard. In the before photo, you’ll see some of the overgrown and dying bushes we removed (some we managed to rehome in other parts of the yard.). It’s nice to see a bit of mulch, giving our new grasses some breathing room. Our lovely dwarf spruce is also a LOT happier not being buried in Barberry (truly, the asshole of the plant world, with its sharp thorns.)

The price of concrete curbing varies, depending on where you live and your local supplier. Where we live, it’s approx. 13sq ft…which adds up fast, but for the hours we’ve spent trying to keep our landscape beds contained, it’s worth its weight in gold! Bender-board is more affordable and is another way to divide outdoor areas in your yard.

In all, whether you save money or blow the budget, I hope these ideas help you enjoy your home’s outdoor spaces a bit more more, or get them read for new potential owners!

READ MORE

Does Exposure REALLY Matter When Choosing Your Home’s Exterior Colors?

The Best WHOLE HOME Gray & Greige Paint Colors

Home Staging for Mass Appeal

The Best Paint COLOURS for Home Staging

The Best Neutral, Light Paint Colours for Home Staging

Chat soon,

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2018, OVERHAULED IN 2023

The post How to Update Your Home’s Exterior (Great for Home Staging) appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Pricing your home? Realtor’s job. Marketing your home? Realtor’s job. Preparing your home for selling? Your job.

In an ideal world, your home will be tickety-boo from top-to-bottom when it hits the market. Closets will be organized, corners cleaned, and garages purged of boxes and leftover furniture pieces.

However, I like to think of myself as ‘well-rooted’ in the real world (well, most days anyway), and in reality, not many people have the time, energy, or budget to create a home that is 100% ready for the real estate market.

So, this being said, I’ve created a list of the 5 KEY ROOMS, that, come hell or high water, need to be in tip-top shape when it comes time to list your home.

WHAT ARE THE 5 MOST IMPORTANT ROOMS WHEN HOME STAGING?

Before we get into the details of HOW to prep your rooms, let’s have a quick chat about the rooms themselves. These KEY ROOMS are the ‘deal breakers’ – if one (or more) of these rooms are off, then potentially, so is the deal. 

Listed in order of importance (but this can change from home to home based on the layout).

1. THE KITCHEN

The kitchen is the heart of the home, which means it’s absolutely VITAL that it’s in its best condition possible. When a buyer looks at an outdated kitchen, they’re adding up the cost in their head of how to update it – and they ALWAYS overestimate, which comes off YOUR asking price.

See the FULL REMODEL and colour list HERE

And regardless of whether your kitchen is outdated or brand new, it needs to be CLEAN and DECLUTTERED. Many buyers would rather buy a clean, and well-maintained older/outdated home, than a newer, dirty, poorly-maintained one. 

As for clutter, it doesn’t matter if YOU think your home looks boring or lacks personality without your personal stuff around – this isn’t about you; it’s about selling your home to the average buyer…

Buyers don’t want to see your stuff unless it’s purposeful and, ideally, pretty.

6 Budget-Friendly Kitchen Update Ideas

2. THE LIVING ROOM

While most people spend their time in the kitchen, it’s still the living room that they look to when they ‘envision’ relaxing or entertaining their friends…

Kylie M & V1 Real Estate Photography / Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray

BTW, just so you don’t think I’m talking out of my arse, I have a husband, two kids, and a dog (I had two at one point – dogs, that is, not husbands). I know how hard it can be to maintain a tidy home. These tips and ideas come from a place of experience, stress, and many home purchases and sales (along with my daily work).

3. THE PRIMARY OR MAIN BEDROOM

While you can get away with spare bedrooms that aren’t stellar or perfectly staged (although I’d prefer you spent time on them), you CAN’T get away with a bad primary bedroom. 

Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray / Sherwin Williams High Reflective White

The key is to depersonalize the master bedroom so that ANYONE can picture themselves sleeping there quite comfortably (think ‘slightly homier hotel’). And while you can get away with personal photos and items in other parts of the home (to a very small degree), not in the primary bedroom.

Benjamin Moore Classic Gray

4. THE BATHROOM

Just like the kitchen – cleanliness is King in the bathroom. It can be outdated and downright fugly, but it can’t…be…dirty.

It’s best if ALL bathrooms are in tip-top shape, but at the very least, the primary and main bathrooms that guests use should be as good as possible.

5. THE ENTRYWAY OR FOYER

Your entryway should provide clues to the buyers regarding what they can expect in the rest of the home regarding cleanliness and style. If your entryway is outdated and dirty, the buyer will expect that in the rest of the home – whether this is the case or not.  

The entryway is the first room potential buyers see when they enter your home and the last one they see when they leave.

HOW TO STAGE YOUR 5 KEY ROOMS: THE BASICS

While home staging can be overwhelming, focusing on your home’s most important rooms first can make the process more manageable and even therapeutic! And if not, there’s always wine and a Ryan Reynold’s movie marathon, which are also therapeutic…

Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray

1. DECLUTTER YOUR 5 KEY ROOMS

While it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, remember, you don’t have to do EVERY room (although that would be fab). Focus on the 5 KEY ROOMS, starting with the most important ones in your particular layout.

Kylie M E-Design & Tim Hanson Productions

When it comes to decluttering, remember, it isn’t personal.

If you want personal, don’t move, and enjoy the home you have (wink wink).

Seriously though, the goal is to DEPERSONALIZE your home enough that someone else could picture themselves living there, and that’s hard to do with Aunty Sally’s and Uncle Herb’s portraits staring at you from the fireplace mantel.

Sherwin Williams Egret White

Decluttering your home is about showcasing the features and finishes that actually COME WITH the home when it’s sold.

This can include…

• solid surfaces like wood floors and quartz countertops
• the shape and flow of a room, which is best showcased via the right furniture layout
• a gorgeous fireplace
• details such as decorative moldings, hardware, or specialty finishes
• a gorgeous view!

When it comes to preparing your home for sale, less is often more. Let’s look at some common surfaces and what they should hold…

FIREPLACE MANTLE

The fireplace is often the focal point in the living or family room. Thoughtful, well-coordinated pieces are fine if they suit the style of the home and don’t distract from the fireplace. If they don’t work, it’s better to leave an EMPTY mantel, than a poorly decorated one. 

If your fireplace has good bones but could use a little update, check out these 5 Fireplace Update Ideas.

I would replace the personal photo with something generic, like a landscape.

Sherwin Williams Egret White

SIDE TABLES, COFFEE TABLES, CABINETS & DRESSERS

Table lamps are mandatory in a well-dressed living room, as long as they’re updated with a clean light shade. As for bedrooms, matching table lamps should be on either side of the bed. While one or two curated items can live on these surfaces, side tables should be free of ANY excess clutter, including personal items and remote controls.

The ‘less is more’ guideline also applies to longer pieces like dressers and coffee tables – nothing personal, only pretty.

If you were selling this home, you’d tuck the book of personal photos away (shown on the bottom shelf).

WINDOWSILLS

There’s rarely a reason for anything to be on a window sill in any room. Does this mean you might need to move your plant collection? Yup. Plants block what can be seen outside the window (which can be handy when you don’t like what you’re looking at). Also, plants and other items make a room look cluttered and smaller, blocking the quality of light coming into the room. 

FLOOR SPACE

Anything unnecessary should not be on the floor (i.e., fans, space heaters, recyclables, misc. unnecessary furniture pieces, boxes, etc…). This also includes extra pieces of furniture that you might use for function but that impede pathways or a room’s natural flow. 

4 Easy Steps & Ideas: How to Decorate Your Fireplace Mantel

BATHROOM COUNTERTOP

Soap and one or two decorative accessories are fine, but everything else should be put in a basket and tucked under the sink. If you don’t have space under your sink, declutter your undercabinet. Take the time to throw out anything unnecessary (like the past date sunscreen and old empty tampon boxes), and make room for that basket.

While this next bathroom might not have the latest features, the beautiful gray-green vanity complements the original travertine tile and makes the space look fresh and clean for a new buyer…

3 Ideas: Add Style To a Small Bathroom

When you have a showing, throw all of your ‘daily use’ items in the basket and throw them under the sink. When you don’t have showings, all of your stuff can happily live on the countertop.

KITCHEN COUNTERTOP

Kitchens are often the function junction in a busy household and it can be hard to stay on top of them (same with entryways). However, the SOONER you sell your home, the SOONER you can stop agonizing over a messy kitchen and just live your life.

Here’s a list of things I suggest my clients leave out (at the very MOST). But even then, if you can put it away…do it.

• blender (as long as it’s not a nasty ole thing, and ideally, it WOULD be put away)
• toaster (not toaster oven, they’re too big and fugly)
• a decorative container holding a few large utensils
• fruit bowl
• coffee maker
• teapot
• microwave
• paper towel holder
• decorative plant or something that’s purposefully added

6 Budget-Friendly Kitchen Update Ideas

Oh, by the way, bananas are the worst staging items. They only look good for a day or two and a half-brown banana doesn’t add a decorative touch to any space (perhaps a ’60s color palette). Stick to apples, oranges, limes, and lemons.

5 Ideas to Update Your 1990s Home

2. UPDATE YOUR 5 KEY ROOMS

You don’t always need to spend 1-3% of your listing price (which is a popular belief) to get your home in showing condition. However, I do believe that if you spend ‘smart money,’ you’ll reap the benefits. So don’t be cheap – buck up for these small expenditures and sell your house!

As you’ll see in this next photo, a home doesn’t need to be ‘trendy based on today’s standards’ to look great for resale…

Sure, some people will look at the above kitchen and see it as outdated as the countertops aren’t white quartz countertops and the cabinets aren’t white – you can’t make everyone happy. However, the BONES of this kitchen are solid, clean, well-maintained, and include thoughtful, smaller updates such as hardware and light fixtures that suit the style of the space.

6 Budget-Friendly Kitchen Update Ideas

LIGHTING UPDATE TIPS

Change outdated fixtures in your 5 KEY ROOMS and give buyers the impression that your home has been maintained structurally AND esthetically.

Here is a list of lights that are considered ‘outdated’…

• booby lights (yes, you know what they look like)

• semi-flush fixtures from the 70s and 80s

• lightbars with bulbs showing (bathroom, definitely 70s and 80s)

• brass or gold finishes (there’s a big difference style-wise between the gold that’s trendy today and the ‘old gold’)

• any fixture with tinted amber glass fixtures

• ceiling fans with brass, ’80s wicker, and/or exposed plain bulbs (yes, even some Edison bulb fixtures can make a home look dated to the 2010s)

Budget-Friendly Lighting Update Ideas (Graphic Content)

CABINET & DOOR HARDWARE UPDATES

If your cabinet and door hardware are currently outdated, the BEST MONEY YOU CAN SPEND is on new hardware – and it’s not that expensive (relative to many other updates). In fact, I’ve written a GREAT blog post on 6 Budget-Friendly Home Update Ideas and you’ll find some great tips and inspiration in there. 

A FEW QUICK HARDWARE TIPS

• When doing bedroom and bathroom doors (and kitchen cabinets if the hinges are exposed), don’t forget to match the hinges to the new hardware!

• If you’re transitioning between styles and don’t have the budget to replace ALL of your metal finishes, BLACK is the most unisex and flexible.

3. IF IT’S BROKEN, FIX IT IN YOUR 5 KEY ROOMS (OR EVERY ROOM, REALLY)

Whether it’s a closet door, cabinet handle, or broken blind, if it’s broken and a buyer will see it or touch it, you need to fix or replace it. If people see a few small things that are broken they can easily assume that if the little things are broken, then what about bigger things?

4. CLEAN YOUR 5 KEY ROOMS

I don’t mean sweep, vacuum, and wipe your countertops – these are things you should do every two to three days when selling your home…

I mean, you need to CLEAN, baby, CLEAN!

Back in the day, before I dove head first into Online Paint Color Consulting, I did a TON of home staging (it was totally my jam). It was amazing how many homes I went to where I said, ‘Okay, you’re going to need to do some serious cleaning,’ to which they said, ‘…but I just cleaned yesterday?‘.

Your version of ‘clean’ might not be clean enough for the average fussy buyer…clean more. 

For most of these things, you only need a clean cloth (with a nice nap to it to really pick up the dirt), soap, and water.

CLEAN YOUR TILE GROUT

If you have tiles/grout, give them a good scrub with cleaner and a brush. If they don’t come clean, consider a commercial-grade cleanser like ZEP or reseal your grout with Grout Renew.

WIPE YOUR BASEBOARDS, TRIMS, & DOORS

It’s time to wipe your trims and doors, concentrating on the areas from the floor up to about five feet, where most of the wear and tear happens. In an ideal world, you’ll get out your trim paint and give your moldings a fresh once-over (you’ll be SHOCKED at how much of a difference this makes) – but I might be pushing my luck with that.

WASH YOUR WALLS

Walls can take a beating in a home where kids and dogs live. Concentrate on the wall space from the floor, up to about five feet. In bathrooms, wipe down ALL of the walls.

WINDOW SILLS

The older your windows are, the more likely it is that there’s mold in the corners. Get Q-tips, bleach, and a cloth, and wipe up any moldy areas. Moldy windows are a great visual reminder to buyers that your home needs new windows or has circulation/moisture issues. Regular soap and water works for run-of-the-mill stuff.

THE FRONT DOOR

Your front door can get pretty grungy and isn’t always noticed in regular cleaning. Clean your door inside and out, including the transition and framework.

And don’t be afraid to slap a coat or two of paint on it. Painting the inside and outside of your front door is a GREAT way to leave a great impression on potential buyers.

The 9 Best Paint Colors for the OUTSIDE of Your Front Door

If you bust your lil butt and work your way through this list, don’t be afraid to apply these same principles to the other rooms in your home. The more you do, the better chance your home will have of selling for TOP DOLLAR! 

READ MORE

6 Budget-Friendly Home Update Ideas

Home Staging Tips & Ideas: 4 Rules to Follow

The 8 Best Benjamin Moore Paint Colours for Home Staging

NEED HELP?

Check out my E-design Packages, E-BOOKS & COURSES!

PUBLISHED IN 2016, UPDATED COMPLETELY IN 2023

The post STAGING OR SELLING YOUR HOME? THESE 5 ROOMS MATTER THE MOST appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Paint numbers, you say? Yes, paint numbers. And let me tell you, these magical little numbers will save your life, or at least the small thread of sanity you have left after trying to find the ever-elusive perfect paint colour.

Every paint color has an LRV number. This isn’t just a number based on science; it’s a number that tells YOU how light or dark a paint color is. These numbers run on a scale from 0-100.

0 is BLACK

100 is WHITE

In the USEABLE residential paint world, no colors have LRVs of 0 or 100 (our scale runs from 2 to 95). However, the 0-100 range gives us a place to work from when finding a paint color.

As you may (or may not) know, depending on how much of my Koolaid you drink, LRV is a great way to choose a paint colour. But where do you find a color’s LRV? You can click on the previous link for some amazing info, or get the short and curly right here…

Sherwin Williams (below) shows the LRV on the back of each color in the fan deck, in the index, AND on each color’s website page.

Benjamin Moore (below) shows each color’s LRV in the index of the fan deck OR on the color’s info page on their website.

So why 60-65? 

Having done many thousands (for real) of Online & In-Home Color Consultations, I see the same things repeatedly. So, I took all of the info crammed in my wee lil’ noggin’ and thought about the how and the why and came up with the LRV range of 60-70 based on some common averages…

• The average room size
• The average amount of natural light that comes into a room
• The personal tastes of the average homeowner as it relates to how light or dark they want a room to look

And, of course, some rooms fall outside these averages; I work with them EVERY day. The super dark rooms, the super bright rooms. The ones with tricky exposures and interior finishings in wild and wacky colors – I deal with these, too. But I’ve found some SERIOUS consistencies regarding the FINAL COLORS that my clients choose, and many of these colors fall in the LRV range of 60-70.

WHAT’S THE PERFECT LRV NUMBER?

It depends on who you talk to. I’m one of the top color experts (insert horn toot here), and 65, give or take a few points, often hits the spot, hence the 60-70 range. HOWEVER, the most popular LRV right now is closer to 70-75 (the off-whites).

Learn MORE about LRV here

If you can find a color that you and your room agree on, between the LRV numbers 60 and 70, the chances of it being a good depth for your room (based on averages) are pretty darn good.

• Is your room a bit darker? Then bump that number up by 5 (or more).
• Is your room brighter, and you want more coziness? Then close the drapes, strap on some jam-jams, and snuggle up to your honey. Or go lower than 60 by a little or a LOT.

Now, let’s look at a few of these bad boys.

BENJAMIN MOORE GRAY OWL OC-52

With an LRV of 65, Gray Owl is smack dab in the middle of our LRV range. And while gray isn’t trendy anymore, many of you don’t care and love it anyway – to which I say, GOOD ON YA!

FULL Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Gray Owl

SHERWIN WILLIAMS AGREEABLE GRAY 7029

Agreeable Gray has an LRV of 60. While it’s one of the few colors on the lower end of our magical range, it’s a great choice for the average home/room because of its flexibility in temperature and undertones.

Agreeable Gray is a warm neutral that can pass as a gray or greige, depending on your room, exposure, and PERCEPTION. This makes it a great choice when you’re unsure which color suits your room and just need to start somewhere!

 FULL Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray

BENJAMIN MOORE COLLINGWOOD OC-28

Collingwood is a popular warm gray with an LRV Of 62, which can be the sweet spot for some rooms. But ALL grays have undertones, so expect to see some purple popping up in this beautiful shade of gray! 

Read more: Paint Colour Review: Benjamin Moore Collingwood

With trends leaning warmer, grays aren’t as in demand. However, warm grays, like Collingwood, are likelier to last longer than the cool end.

BENJAMIN MOORE EDGECOMB GRAY HC-173

I love Edgecomb Gray, and so do my clients. With an LRV of ALMOST 64, it is a great choice for MANY rooms and exposures.

One reason for Edgecomb Gray’s popularity (other than its badass LRV), is that it has no real commitment to green or pink undertones, leaving you with a pretty darn easy-to-please warm neutral.

Paint Colour Review: Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray

SHERWIN WILLIAMS NATURAL TAN 7567

Natural Tan is a popular color for those who are tired of gray and ready to lean into the warmer, beige-tan world. With its LRV of 65, it’s in the middle of our ideal LRV range and offers a well-balanced warmth and depth.

As for undertones, beige and tan differ from each other. So, being a tan paint color, Natural Tan has a very (very) vague green undertone, although some people see a wink of pink (which I’m yet to see).

FULL Paint Color Review of Natural Tan

SAMPLIZE offers peel-and-stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER, and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots.

• Samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1 BUSINESS DAY!
• they’re more affordable than the sample pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling

Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE

The above suggestions are colors that come up repeatedly with my Online Paint Color Consulting clients. Does this mean they’ll be right for you? Not necessarily. There are many things to consider when it comes to choosing the COLOUR for your room, such as…

YOUR ROOM’S EXPOSURE & HOW IT AFFECTS COLORS

Whether you have north, south, east, west, or a MIX of those exposures – each room has its particular colour needs (which can be unrelated to the LRV number). And yes, I’ve written blog posts on EACH of those compass directions if you click the above links.

Kylie M & V1 Real Estate Photography

THE SIZE OF YOUR ROOM (size matters…amen)

The size of your room can be GREATLY affected by the LRV of the paint colour. I mean not literally, but visually. For example, if you have a room painted a light color, and you paint the end wall a darker shade, that end wall will look CLOSER and make the room look smaller.

The 13 Best Dark Navy Blue Paint Colors

On the other hand, small rooms often benefit from paint colors with higher LRVs as they reflect more light. However, I’ve made some small rooms look PRETTY DARN AMAZING with wicked dark hues.

3 Ideas to Add Personality to a Small Bathroom

INTERIOR FINISHES (HARD & SOFT)

Do you have wood cabinets or flooring? Or maybe you have a challenging carpet, couch, or countertop colour. Whatever it is, your paint colour must work WITH it, not against it. Often, we get caught up in the colors WE love and forget to honor our home’s finishes. While you want to keep your personal tastes in mind, listen to your home FIRST and work out from there.

PERSONAL TASTES

Which always amaze and excite me.

So, as you can see, picking the right COLOUR can be challenging; however, looking at colors that are between 60-70 is a GREAT place to start your color search. And if that doesn’t work? You know how to call…and it ain’t the Ghostbusters.

Find out your 3 BEST PAINT COLORS

Kylie M E-Designs and Online Colour Consulting 

Chat soon,

READ MORE

The Best Off-White Neutral Paint Colors

The Best WHOLE HOME Warm Neutral Paint Colors

The 12 Best Whole Home Paint Colours

The Best Gray and Greige Paint Colours – Sherwin Williams

Written in 2017, updated in 2023

The post The Best Paint NUMBERS for Your Home: 60-70 (LRV) appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Whether you’re new to the real estate market or an old hand, it’s vital to understand how Home Staging can affect the value of your biggest investment in the eyes of potential buyers.

As you know, your home is not worth what you think it’s worth – it’s worth what people are willing to pay for THEIR future home. If they won’t pay what you want, then it’s only worth that to you!

This means the better your home looks, the more you’ll likely get for it. However, hiring a full-service, professional staging company can cost a fortune. Hey, if you’ve got the bucks for it, let ‘er rip, tater chip. However, you can make smart updates without breaking the kid’s piggy banks.

Having staged, built, renovated, and updated over ten thousand homes locally and online, I know what matters to homeowners and potential buyers.

Let’s get this house party started!

1. HOME STAGING UPDATE: PAINT YOUR FRONT DOOR

Many buyers will find a house on MLS, write down the address, and go for a drive BEFORE they talk to their Realtor. It’s vital that they like what they see outside before they step inside your home.

Spend some time improving your curb appeal – make the first impression count…

Few people want rustic red front doors and prefer more modern colors (unless it’s THE perfect color for your home.)

Aside from tidying up the garden beds, fixing any broken elements, and repainting chipped or faded paint, a great way to add instant curb appeal is to hit that front door with a fresh coat of paint…

The Best Front Door Paint Colors (HOA-FRIENDLY!)

Paint your front door, update your exterior light fixtures, sweep off your driveway and porch, and freshen up your bark mulch or gravel – these are great ways to add value to your home’s exterior – without breaking the bank.

And don’t forget about the inside of your front door! These kinds of projects take an afternoon and cost under $100 – that’s GREAT bang for buck!

How to Add Curb Appeal for Home Staging

BY THE WAY, a huge thank you to my Online Color Consulting clients who send me their photos – my blog wouldn’t run without you. Your photos help me show readers REAL homes with REAL budgets.

2. HOME STAGING UPDATE: TRASH THE BRASS

1970, 80, and 90’s style brass is not trendy and will not add value to your home. Not only will it not add value, but it could detract from other things your home has going for it, as it DATES your home.

In this next photo, the BONES of the bathroom are generally great…

There’s nothing wrong with a clean bathroom, with travertine tile, shaker-style cabinet, and a neutral countertop. So what’s REALLY throwing it?

THE BRASS.

BUDGET-FRIENDLY UPDATE/STAGING IDEAS

• Change the hardware: $50
• Mirror: $75
• New faucets: $200
• Door handle: $40
• Towel/tp holder: $75
• Take down the towel holder over the loo and patch/paint: $25

As for the shower itself, I would take that bad boy out, fill the screw holes with caulking and put up a classy shower curtain with a hotel-style shower rod. Ideal? No, but it’s definitely better than what’s there.

The total for my pretend ‘bathroom remodel’ would be under $600 – that’s smart money.

Getting caught up in the staging process and going too far is easy. Some potential buyers or Real Estate Agents might say, ‘Rip out the travertine tile, put in a new vanity, and start fresh.’ While that’s great if you have the time and the money, staging your home is often just about getting it good enough to get your home’s ‘best value.’

‘Best value’ based on the current market, your TARGET market, and the finishes in the remainder of the home.

What does the above mean?

THE SPEED OF THE CURRENT MARKET

If the current market is moving fast, and things are selling for list price or over, you just need to tidy up the basics, ensure it’s clean, and get it SOLD.

On the other hand, if you’re in a slow market and have the time, the more updates you do, the better chance your home has of getting the attention it deserves. The key is to make these changes BEFORE you put it on the market, rather than panicking and trying to update it when your home isn’t selling. Those first eyes on your home are the most important!

TARGET MARKET

TBA, I’m currently updating this post!

REMAINING FINISHES

How much you update a room can depend on the surrounding finishes, in the room itself, and in the adjoining rooms. Putting in a beautiful new quartz countertop in your bathroom doesn’t make sense if the surrounding finishes are super outdated.

Why?

There are exceptions – you MIGHT find a countertop that suits your old finishes AND is modern-looking. However, many finishes from previous decades don’t suit more modern quartz countertops – it’s slim pickings. You could end up with a bathroom that looks poorly coordinated (as your countertop is too modern for its surroundings). OR, your new countertop, chosen to coordinate with your old finishes – still looks old.

Again, there are ALWAYS exceptions, but don’t automatically assume your home is one of them. Start with SMALL updates first and work up from there; in other words…

Don’t spend money you don’t have to.

How to Update Older Granite Countertops

While this next bathroom is just BEGGING for some cabinet door hardware (that matches the existing finishes), the overall first impression is awesome and ready for the market…

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Egret White

Did you notice that the faucets and towel holders are kinda brassy?

This is an updated take on an old finish, as the antiqued brass looks great in the right space and has way better street cred than 90s brass.

BRASS HARDWARE THAT COULD BE UPDATED FOR STAGING

While you don’t have to do everything, small updates can make a BIG DIFFERENCE. Here are the few brass offenders and the approximate cost to update them…

• Brass doorknobs: $40 (each)
• Brass hinges: $5 (per door)
• Brass cabinet hardware for a kitchen: $150 (total)
• Front door hardware: $150
• Faucet: $200

White walls, trims, and doors are still reasonably popular, but trends lean toward off-whites

Going into 2024, black, polished nickel, and chrome are all common, popular metal finishes. Oil-rubbed bronze only suits certain homes and a particular target market – it’s not seen as a ‘modern’ finish (but not every home is a typical ‘modern’ style.) You might think, ‘But I like brass; I think it looks better.’ Well, guess what? When you’re the seller, it doesn’t matter what you think; it matters what the home buyers in your target market think, and most buyers aren’t interested in brass. (I am a bossy lil’ thing sometimes).

HARDWARE TIPS

• Black hardware is highly contrasted on white cabinets and doors, so decide whether that suits your home.
• If you’re keeping some brass in your home, black and oil-rubbed bronze will best transition with a brass finish.
• Nickel doesn’t usually work well in the same room as brass, so if you are looking at nickel, you’ll want to update all of the brass items in that room (or ideally in your whole home)

The Best BUDGET-FRIENDLY Hardware to Update Wood Cabinets

3. HOME STAGING UPDATE: LIGHT IT UP!

Lighting is ESSENTIAL to a home’s success, whether you’re living in it or selling it. Clean but poorly lit rooms can look dirty, gloomy, and small. A well-lit room looks brighter, bigger, cleaner, and more appealing to potential buyers. Add in some decluttering, and you’re set!

Check this list to see if any of your rooms have an outdated and ineffective light fixture:

• Light fixtures that hold only one bulb (other than a pendant over an island)
• Booby lights (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, read here)
• Light fixtures that have brass detailing

Talk to your local lighting store, or peruse Pinterest to see which light fixtures are trendy. The bit of chandelier you see here is NOT trendy and dates a home to the 90s/2000s…

And while this chandelier is slooooowly going out of style, it’s still a great choice if you’re listing in 2024 and it suits your style of home…

While this next type of chandelier was great for selling this home in 2020 (as with any Edison-style fixture), it’s no longer trendy. If you have one, it’s not BAD; just take out the Edison bulbs and put in chandelier-style bulbs. If you’re shopping for a new light, avoid this style…

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray

Notice the lack of clutter in the above photo. The furniture shows the function and flow of the space without too much fuss.

WHICH LIGHT FIXTURES SHOULD BE UPDATED FOR STAGING?

My inside voice says, ‘ALL OF THEM!’, but it’s only kidding (kind of – wink wink). The lights that matter the most are often based on your 5 KEY ROOMS, which I recommend reading after you finish this blog post.

• ENTRYWAY
• LIVING ROOM
• KITCHEN
• PRIMARY BEDROOM
• MAIN BATHROOM

This bad boy below is the best, most cost-effective light fixture to update any secondary space. (You’ll want something more interesting in the main room, like the master bedroom/living room/kitchen, etc…)

This one is great for secondary spaces such as a spare bedroom, hallway, laundry room, family room, etc. Sure, it’s no screamin’ glory style-wise, but it’s a great place to start for a BUDGET-FRIENDLY update.

If you want to take things up a notch for your important rooms, check out this blog post (once you’re done reading this one): Lighting Update Ideas: Warning – Graphic Content.

Let’s go down a little (or big) rabbit hole with this next kitchen. Along with the light fixtures, there are a few other teaching moments…

First off, this space is GORGEOUS; I’m just being fussy for the sake of teaching! Many people curse their older granite countertops and need to update their wood cabinets – this kitchen is beautiful! However, if the homeowner wanted to stage it, update it, get it ready for sale, AND…spend a BIT MORE money without going over the top, I’ve got some great ideas.

Sure, some professional stagers, Real Estate Agents, and Designers will say these cabinets must be painted and the granite should be replaced. And for some people, this is true – it’s what they want to see. However, for some homes, it’s about spending SMART MONEY, which is also the focus of this blog post.

First, let’s list a few things this kitchen has going for it…

• the cabinet hardware is updated and SIMPLE
• WOOD CABINETS that are in great shape to keep, or for a new owner to paint
• stainless steel appliances
• furnishings that add to the space
• the window sill is clear, and the countertops are decluttered
• the dining room light fixture is PERFECT!
• minimal clutter on the counters and well-placed accessories

Again, this homeowner isn’t a seller, and their home looks GREAT, but here are a few shifts for Home Staging‘s purposes…

1. INSTALL A CREAMY, OFF-WHITE, SUBWAY TILE BACKSPLASH

Subway tile is timeless. And while not everyone appreciates this particular granite, surround it with updated finishes, and it will take on a whole new life! For a space like this, that’s a touch more traditional, I’d stick with a 3×6 subway tile in a glossy finish.

4 Ideas to Jazz Up a Simple Subway Tile

2. CHANGE THE PENDANT LIGHTS

The chain, combined with the cage style of these pendant lights, is very graphic and cluttered. Since the countertop and backsplash already have a busy look, I’d take a more subtle approach with the lights.

I might choose something like this…

WAYFAIR Leilani 1 BULB FIXTURE

Ideally, I’d spend WAY LESS than that, but it’s the first one that grabbed my eye (and I’m not really a shopping site).

OOOO, this one is a better price, and I also like it for the style of this kitchen (it wouldn’t suit more modern kitchens)…

WAYFAIR Bales FIXTURE

If they were to update the backsplash, I’d still change the lights. As for the light above the sink, I’d simplify it or install a ceiling-mount fixture.

3. PAINT THE WALLS A LIGHTER NEUTRAL SHADE

Honestly, I’m OBSESSED with this medium-toned greige on the walls – it’s wicked pretty with the wood cabinets and trim. HOWEVER, getting a home ready for sale is about appealing to the masses…

The 6 Best Warm Off-White Paint Colors

Fewer people will like this depth in the kitchen, and MORE people will want to see something lighter and warmer, that contrasts less with the wood. If you’re like me, you’ll wince doing it, but in the end, it’s about selling your home and finding your next one!

Nothing I’ve suggested is over the top, especially if you’re asking a decent price. It can pay to spend SMART MONEY!

As usual, I got a bit off track there (SQUIRREL!); let’s finish this section with a few tips!

LIGHTING TIPS

• The metal finishes that are the most trendy for light fixtures (going into 2024) are black and polished nickel
• If your room/space is larger than 8×10, consider a fixture that takes three – 60w bulbs instead of two
• Don’t forget to consider your light bulb’s KELVINS!

4. HOME STAGING UPDATE: NEUTRAL LINENS

Bedding and linens with busy patterns can make a space look smaller and more cluttered than it is. Not only that, patterned bedding focuses on the bedding, not the room itself. It doesn’t matter how pretty your floral is or how striking your graphic stripe is, unless it’s been well-decorated (it takes a lot) – MANY rooms need solid linens to look their best!

Let’s explore a few examples and how they could be improved…

This first room is WAY over the top –  it’s downright stunning. Buyers aren’t expecting this look, or this level of updates (a HUGE bonus if your home does look like this). Buyers are looking for a clean, DEPERSONALIZED space, with a good traffic pattern from the doorway to the bed, bathroom, and closet.

In this next bedroom, the small bit you can see of this bedding says all you need to know – it’s too busy…

A simple off-white/beige duvet cover and a navy blue throw pillow (or two) would show the room much better. And sure, we could jazz up the side tables with some accessories and a new lamp, but these ideas are about keeping it SIMPLE and budget-friendly.

Now, compare it to this next room…

The only thing that needs to be fixed is the personal photo on the dresser – everything else is great – tasteful, modern throw pillows, simple linens, and minimal decor.

This next example is of a well-dressed, well-decorated room that handles patterned linens very well. This bedroom works because the patterns are passive rather than a strong focal point, and the entire palette is super muted…

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Egret White

While the next room is well-decorated, the striped duvet cover distracts and takes away from the bones of the room – which are STUNNING…

Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray and Sherwin Williams High Reflective White

Let’s consider what would be included with this home (if it were for sale, which it’s not): the chandelier, large window, board-and-batten walls, vaulted ceiling, and wood floors. The striped duvet cover interferes with and distracts from these features. I would rather see a white, textured duvet cover, with a soft gray throw/quilt on the end of the bed. If this home were being listed, I might kill the shag rug, too…people aren’t diggin’ shag these days.)

BATHROOM TOWELS

As for bathroom towels, with FEW exceptions, bathrooms should have white towels. Don’t get creative with a navy blue accent towel or a splash of sage green – save those colors for your decor.

What are the exceptions?

Some bathrooms with warmer beige tones, suit off-white towels, rather than crisp white ones. You won’t catch many professional home stagers putting COLORED TOWELS in their clients’ homes.

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Alabaster

The towels in this next bathroom are great for the homeowner‘s style, but they should be white for resale…

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist

Sure, they’re pretty, but THEY AIN’T COMIN’ WITH THE HOUSE and distract from what really matters. They also make the space look smaller and more cluttered.

The color in the artwork is the only thing that should be doing any heavy color-lifting in this space.

5. HOME STAGING UPDATE: PAINT A FEW ROOMS

Painting your entire home might be out of the question, but focusing on a few of your 5 Key Rooms is a great way to refresh your space.

• ENTRYWAY
• LIVING ROOM
• KITCHEN
• PRIMARY BEDROOM
• MAIN BATHROOM

Pick the spaces that matter the most in your home and start with these. Choose a modern shade of neutral that suits the hard finishes in your home – the ones that stay with the home when it’s sold.

Regardless of your personal preferences, bright colors don’t sell.

The early 2000s tile looks more updated with a well-chosen wall color! 

A FEW MORE HOME STAGING TIPS

• Get rid of any home odors, especially from pets or stinky teenagers/kids. This might involve getting your carpet and rugs cleaned to remove any stains.
• Don’t use smelly candles or plug-in air freshens  – they’re toxic and extremely off-putting. Do your research on a more natural approach, such as boiling particular spices on the stove, or making some COOKIES! 
• Open blinds and drapes to maximize your home’s natural light. If you have a less-than-desirable view, tilt the blinds or use sheers to camouflage it.
• Fix ANYTHING that’s broken – cracks, dents, the fewer flaws, the better.
• Don’t leave anything around your tub, kitchen, bathroom counter, or window sills – simple and clean is best, along with a few thoughtful accessories on your counters.
• Turn on table lamps in rooms that have inadequate natural lighting. Make sure they have updated shades that offer a clean, bright light.
• Put kid’s toys away in drawers, or, even better, in packed boxes in a storage unit.

The Best Light Neutral Paint Colors for Home Staging

READ MORE

Home Staging Tips and Ideas: The 5 Key Rooms

Home Staging: 5 Affordable and Fun Ideas

The Top 8 Light Neutral Paint Colours for Home Staging

3 Home Staging Ideas: How to Decorate for Mass Appeal

Home Staging Tips and Ideas: 4 Rules to Follow

NEED HELP?

Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting! 

Chat soon,

WRITTEN IN 2016 – FULLY OVERHAULED IN 2023

The post 4 Budget Friendly Home Staging, Update Ideas appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

I’m a huge fan of wood cabinets (especially oak). Unlike melamine, thermofoil, and veneers, wood cabinets are almost always SOLID wood. And with real solid wood comes real potential.

Potential for what, you might ask?

Firstly, the potential for ‘hard wood‘ jokes (always a personal fave). Secondly, there’s a lot of updating potential, regardless of the century your cabinets were installed in. For example…

• an updated look via paint (which you can learn about HERE)

• a fresh finish with a more modern stain

• a facelift with hardware, decor, and wall paint colours that suit your wood stain

And while I’m sure you’ve heard me talk about painting/staining oak cabinets to update and add value, today we’ll talk about everything BUT that.

Are you ready, Betty?

1. UPDATE HARDWARE & LIGHT FIXTURES

I talked about hardware in this blog post, and today, I want to expand on those ideas with a few quick case studies…

BLACK HARDWARE ON WOOD CABINETS

Black is HANDS-DOWN, the top choice for updating wood cabinets. However, if you have FULLY exposed hinges (in other words, it’s not just the little edge showing), it’s a hard no from this cowgirl. Exposed hinges, especially ones that are in high contrast to your wood finish, can look harsh and show the age of the cabinets (as modern cabinets have hidden hinges).

For the scale of these cabinet doors (below), I would love to see handles with a bit more thickness and fewer curves…

In the above photo, notice how the new white subway tile backsplash and updated countertop give NEW life to the original oak cabinets – MAD LOVE!

This next kitchen has ALL of my heart…

Really, the only things I might change would be to find light fixtures that aren’t hanging on chains and maaaybe a subway tile backsplash in a muted neutral that matches the countertops. But even as-is, I love it.

While this next kitchen has all the original features (likely late 80s), the coordinated hardware and light fixtures help the space feel pulled together and purposefully designed. To REALLY update this space, here are a few ideas…

• Paint the island a colour that complements the countertop and surrounding wood finishes – the red stain is a bit off.
• If the pendants are staying, choose a chandelier with fewer curves. While the look suits the pendants, fewer curly cues would be better.
• Even better, I’d love to see black hardware, modern pendants in a black finish, and a coordinating chandelier.
• Brighten the walls with a modern beige paint colour.
• Budget allowing, I’d LOVE to see a subway tile backsplash, which is one of the BEST ways to update a kitchen with oak cabinets and granite countertops.

POLISHED NICKEL HARDWARE ON WOOD CABINETS

Polished nickel is in HOT second place to black, especially if you want a slightly more modern approach that coordinates with stainless appliances.

These next cabinets are gorgeous in their orange-red glory, but if it were MY home, here’s what I would do…

• I’d paint the cabinets (sorry #notsorry). HOWEVER, it would hurt me as the wood IS so darn pretty (it’s just overwhelming with the floor).
• But because painting wasn’t an option with this client, I’d put a rug on the floor (a washable one) to get a bit of a visual breather between the wood floor and the cabinets.
• Try black hardware and see which is better (I don’t mind the polished nickel, but I am curious to see black).
• Paint the walls so they don’t compete with the cabinets as much.
• Add a subway tile backsplash.
• Remove the single pendant.
• Add a striking, larger piece of artwork on the wall beside the back door, creating a focal point.

ANTIQUE BRASS HARDWARE ON WOOD CABINETS

If you’re looking for a low-contrast look, antique brass is a beautiful finish with oak cabinets, but it’s definitely tougher to pull off unless you have mad style (think Studio McGee) and the right cabinets (shaker style). The bonus is that most oak cabinets (if they have their original hardware) have hinges in this finish, so that’s one less thing to worry about.

OIL-RUBBED BRONZE HARDWARE ON WOOD CABINETS

Oil-rubbed bronze is another beautiful finish with wood cabinets but is usually better with oak than cherry or maple (depending on the stain colour).

However, of the four finishes, oil-rubbed bronze is usually the LEAST modern-looking.

To UPDATE this next kitchen without painting the cabinets, I would change the light fixtures for sure, going down to two slightly larger ones and capping off the middle one. I would also update the backsplash with a creamy beige subway tile.

GOLD OR BRASS HARDWARE ON WOOD CABINETS

While gold and brass are POPULAR finishes these days, they aren’t always a hit with wood cabinets.

Why?

Gold/brass is usually a yellow-toned metal finish, and some cabinets are too orange/red-toned for this yellow-gold look. Aged brass (antique brass) is often a better fit, but both can be considerably more expensive than black or polished nickel.

2. ADD GLASS TO FEATURE CABINET DOORS

Adding glass to a few key doors will relieve some of the visual weight of the wood and add reflective value to your kitchen (which is great if you have a dark kitchen and keep tidy cupboards). And of course, you could hire a cabinet company to do this for you, but with a bottle of wine and a saw, you might be AMAZED at what you can accomplish (it’s how I trim my toenails).

Seriously though, want to know how? Confessions of a Serial DIY’er has a great ‘how-to’ as does my gal Tamara over at Provident Home Design.

3. ADD A NEW BACKSPLASH

Whether you have an outdated backsplash or none at all, adding a well-chosen tile will do WONDERS for your wood cabinets!

The most popular, timeless choice would be subway tile with either white grout or grout that coordinates to your wall colour/countertop. This works well when partnered with a neutral white, gray, or black countertop.

This next kitchen looks right on-trend with its cream subway tile backsplash and warm white walls…

A few budget-friendly update ideas would be…

• paint the pantry door a darker accent color
• add a bit of interesting decor, like branches/leaves in the large vase
• considering pendants with a fabric or solid white shade as they offer a softer light
• find some upholstered stools in a darker fabric (dark green-gray would be pretty, as it would contrast the warm woods)

This next kitchen shows oak cabinets with exposed hinges…

My client took this photo mid-project, so excuse a few funny spots.

My client added a new countertop and white subway tile with contrasting grout to subtly jazz things up.

As shown in this next photo, you could also consider travertine. While travertine gets a bad rap, I’m a huge fan, and with the coming warm trends, you just might see it coming back! I also love the polished nickel hardware – a simple complement to the warm wood tones, whereas black would’ve created more contrast and been a bit harsh with the organic look of the travertine.

This next photo shows how adding hardware, a modern countertop, and a new subway tile backsplash can lighten, brighten, and update wood cabinets. I know a LOT of you would paint these bad boys, but other than the exposed hinges, LOOK at the bone structure of these cabinets – gorgeous!

To finish this up, I would replace the yellowed phone jack and put something pretty in the open cabinet

6 Budget-Friendly Ideas to Update Your HOME

How to Create a Timeless Home – 4-Part Series

This next kitchen is a great example…

• White quartz countertops.
• Modern marble tile backsplash.
• New black hardware.

And all of this was done without changing the cabinets or the original tile floor!

If I were to suggest one BIG thing, it would be to remove the wood valance over the sink. Valances like this cut back on the quality of light and date a space to the 80s.

4. USE THE RIGHT HOME DECOR

Using unified home decor with a consistent colour palette can help update a kitchen or bathroom with oak cabinets. The more colors and metal finishes you add, the more cluttered it can make a room look.

BLACK, WHITE, CREAM, BROWN, & GRAY HOME DECOR

Neutrals and simple, classic colors are a great way to update wood cabinets. Rather than contrasting the wood with a colour like blue or green, neutrals keep things simple and modern while still adding visual interest.

COPPER-COLOURED HOME DECOR IN KITCHENS

Copper is a beautiful complement to oak cabinets with its earthy, rich metal finish. Whether it’s canisters or small decorative pieces, adding copper can help to simplify and unify your cabinets and decor, as copper tends to have the same warm undertone as some oak finishes.

UPDATED FURNISHINGS

This next kitchen shows how the right furnishings finish a space. Wood stools would be overwhelming, considering all the wood already in this space.

If I were to suggest a change, I might choose stools that are just a bit less fancy – still upholstered, but with more simple lines and no nailhead details (and seriously, I’m just being picky for the sake of showing you ideas/options) – this space really is beautiful. And the artwork? PERFECT!

GREENERY IN KITCHENS

Generally speaking, too much colour isn’t great for wood cabinets. However, adding some greenery and keeping things simple is a GREAT way to add energy to the room without overwhelming it.

While I might add a bit more decorative love to this next kitchen, the right bones are in place, and the photo shows how even a wink of green adds LIFE (this home was getting ready for staging, so it was kept simple)!

NEED HELP? Check out my ONLINE PAINT COLOR SERVICES – let me make it easy for you! 

I also believe that CLEARING THE CLUTTER is a great way to update wood cabinets. Simplify your space and let the products do the visual work for you. Wood cabinets (especially oak) have a grain that can add visual interest/clutter to a space.

Let’s look at this next photo…

Although the simplicity is alright for home staging, I have a few suggestions that would respect the owner’s need for simplicity while adding a decorative touch…

• add simple, repetitive decor pieces in those upper glass cabinets (i.e., coordinating bowls/vases/stacks of plates)

• remove the knife holders as they’re hangry-looking

• add a plant or two to complement the warm tones and add some energy! Even just one in the corner with the blender would make a BIG difference

• use a nicer utensil holder with some stainless utensils

• add a decorative soap dispenser

4 Tips for Picking the Best Subway Tile for Your Backsplash

In this next photo, while the backsplash diamond pattern isn’t terribly modern, the cabinets have great bones and a totally workable stain. If the countertops were cluttered, this space would have WAY less appeal. The use of greenery keeps the accessories in this room well-connected and complementary to the maple cabinets.

How to Update a 1990s Home

If the above owner wanted to take things a step further, they could consider the following:

• Add a soft, warm, creamy white subway tile. White would be too stark with the flooring and countertop. I would do a soft, light beige-ish grout to define the tile layout.

• Replace the pendant lights with clear glass ones that are slightly larger and more updated. I’d probably take it down to three lights and cap one.

• Find upholstered stools to break up the wood a bit and add some softness and texture.

Click HERE or on the above image to see available packages

5. PAINT…JUST A LITTLE

Okay, so I’m a big fat liar, I know – slap me with a wet noodle. However, this idea doesn’t involve painting ALL of your cabinets – just some of them, and it’s too good of an idea not to share!

By choosing a few key places to paint, you can give your kitchen an updated look and give the oak something to play off.

The 6 Best Paint Colours for Bathroom Vanities Are ALSO GREAT for Kitchen Islands! 

I’m in LOVE with this next kitchen with its cherry wood cabinets. And while this approach isn’t for the faint of heart, remember, sometimes wood needs something to PLAY with to come into its full glory!

Not sure if you should even CONSIDER painting your cabinets? Take my fun QUESTIONNAIRE to see what your kitchen says!

Of course, there are MANY different kitchen layouts, so it can be challenging to say, ‘Always paint these cabinets and leave these ones wood,’ but here are some ideas to get you going…

• paint only the upper cabinets

• paint only the lower cabinets

• if you have a pantry-style cabinet in the kitchen, paint it as well as the uppers OR lowers

• paint the island

• if you have a unique range hood or desk area, paint it

PEOPLE ALSO ASK…

ARE HONEY OAK CABINETS COMING BACK IN STYLE IN 2023 & 2024

This year, we’ve seen more wood cabinets, particularly white oak, emerge. In the coming years, expect to see more wood, even some mid-depth stains.

As for honey oak, in particular, it’s all about the grain and the stain. Some honey oak cabinets are muted; if they have a shaker or non-cathedral-style door, there are ways to update them.

However, some oak cabinets are heavily grained and have a strong yellow or orange stain on them, making it harder for them to look trendy or updated.

The cabinets in this next kitchen have GREAT bones, but in terms of being modern (if the homeowner were concerned about that), the strength of the orange stain is a bit strong. This being said, there are still ways to make cabinets like this work!

Want more?

5 Ideas to Update Oak Cabinets – (PART 1 in series)

Budget-Friendly Hardware to Update Wood Cabinets (PART 3)

The 16 Best Paint Colors to Update Oak or Wood Cabinets or Trim (PART 4)

The 16 Best Paint Colors to Coordinate with Wood

Should I Paint My Cabinets or Leave Them Stained? A Questionnaire

The 12 Best WHOLE HOME Gray & Greige Paint Colors

Need HELP?

Check out my E-Design and Online Color Consulting Packages 

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN 2018, FULLY UPDATED IN 2023

The post How to Update Oak or Wood Cabinets WITHOUT a Drop of Paint (PART 2) appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Partner Post to The Best Light Paint Colours for a Dark Room

Let’s be honest: I’m cute, funny, and amazingly modest. However, I’m NOT a rocket scientist. This being said, I don’t need to be a rocket scientist to realize the following:

Dark rooms aren’t fixed with the right paint colour; they’re fixed with the right lighting. End of story.

That’s right, my friends. If you don’t have the right lighting in your dark room, NO magical paint colour will save you – unless it’s glow-in-the-dark.

Let there be light!

Let’s get down to the nitty gritty – how much light YOUR room needs…

THE MAGIC FORMULA

Multiply the room’s width by the length, then multiply it by 1.5 – this will give you the watts you need.
w x l x 1.5 = wattage

For example:
8w x 10l = 80 sq ft. 80 x 1.5 = dammit, where’s my calculator.  Right, 120.  So an 8 x 10 room needs 120 watts of light.

Technically, most small rooms (8×10 or smaller) can get away with 120 watts of lighting. However, getting enough wattage in one light fixture can be challenging once you hit the bigger sizes. So what do you do?

Drink wine and cry.

Before we start, I know that many of us still use incandescent bulbs (personally, they’re my fave), whereas others have moved to LEDs (men seem to favor these). I’ve done up this simple chart so you can cross-match your info.

HOW MUCH LIGHT DOES A SMALL ROOM NEED?

Approx. 80 – 120 SQ FT 

Rooms in this size range need approx. 120-180 watts of light. For this reason, I’m inclined to go ‘the more, the merrier,’ and I would install a light that holds three – 60w bulbs. However, general light fixtures don’t necessarily add ambiance and you may still want to add some accent lighting.

A SMALL ROOM WILL NEED…

• At least one light fixture that holds three – 60w bulbs or the equivalent wattage in pot lights.

• Two table lamps for ambiance.

Do you have a booby light that only holds one or two – 60w bulbs? Oh, you are so busted. If so, read this…Budget-Friendly Lighting Update Ideas

HOW MUCH LIGHT DOES A MEDIUM-SIZE ROOM NEED?

APPROX. 144 – 180 SQ FT

Rooms in this size range need approx. 215-275 watts of light. Unless it’s a dining room or a room that can hold a chandelier (usually five or more bulbs), you’ll need a central fixture and accent lighting to have it ‘well-lit.’

Don’t be afraid to lower your central/general light (as long as the bottom is at least seven feet from the floor). This can make a space feel brighter, yet more intimate.

A MEDIUM-SIZE ROOM WILL NEED…

• ONE central light fixture that holds four to six – 60w bulbs.

• You could also add two table or accent lights that hold 40-60w each.

 How the KELVINS of a Light Bulb Affect Paint Colours

HOW MUCH LIGHT DOES A LARGE ROOM NEED?

200 sq ft +

If you have a larger room with only one central light fixture (and don’t plan on hiring an electrician to add pot lights), you’ll need at least three table/floor/accent lights to make up the difference.

I BET this room doesn’t have enough light! 

Again, w x l x 1.5 = wattage

For example, a room that is 12 x 18 (216 sq ft) x 1.5 technically needs 324 watts. Now, you can get 180 of those via a central light fixture/pot lights; however, you will likely need to supplement with table lamps (60w each), which will get you closer to the mark.

Plus, table lamps and accent lighting add mood and ambiance to a space, so even if you DON’T need the extra wattage, I consider these pieces an essential part of any decorative arsenal, no matter WHAT size the room is.

A LARGE ROOM WILL NEED…

• ONE central light fixture that holds a minimum of three – 60w bulbs (or pot lighting).

• THREE table/floor/accent lights that each hold 60-100w (the more, the better).

• If you have an open layout, like the room shown above, separate each space into functional areas – measure those and then determine the wattage needed.

ROOMS THAT ARE LONGER THAN 20 FEET

If you have a room that is LONGER than 20 feet, you may want to cut it in half and then treat the two halves as ‘separate rooms.’ This way, you can light each half of the room, which, as a whole, will create a ‘well-lit room.’

In this next room, with pot lights, two central hanging light fixtures, and table lamps, you can see how the room is split into two sections, making it look well-rounded and well-lit.

This photo shows how recessed lighting and track lights can define social areas. In between pot lights, track lighting, and accent lighting – this room has it covered!

REMEMBER…

Many rooms need a central light or recessed lights, as they’re the lights in charge of the room. These lights light the space whether all of the secondary/accent lights are on or off.

If you don’t have a central light fixture (or pot lights), you must supplement with table and floor lamps that supply your room’s wattage (read below for more).

• Central or general lights are usually located in the center of the room.

• Instead of a central or general light, many modern homes have recessed or pot lighting, which, when done correctly, can be as effective as a central light fixture.

• Every dark room or area (including hallways) should have a general light that holds at least three – 60w bulbs.

EVERY ROOM SHOULD HAVE ACCENT LIGHTING 

WHAT IS ACCENT LIGHTING?

Accent or task lighting may include table lamps, floor lamps, wall sconces, recessed/pot lights/under cabinet lighting, etc… and in a pinch, accent lighting with the right wattage will do the job when there isn’t a central light fixture.

Look at all of the accent lighting in this space – MAD LOVE! 

• Accent lighting is what highlights the features of your home, lets you do specific tasks (task lighting), and creates ambiance. Even if your central light is doing the job, accent lighting just adds to the room’s overall appeal.

• A white or off-white lampshade will shed a brighter light than a dark or colored lampshade.

• In the average room, you should have three accents lights, that would create a triangle if you drew a line between them (as shown in the above photo)

And when all else fails, there are TONS of other ways to improve the ‘perceived light’ in your dark room…How to Brighten a Dark Space OR 4 Ideas to Brighten a Dark Room

Well, I hope you found this article en-LIGHT-ening (mwah-ha-ha).

READ MORE

The Best Light Paint Colours for a Dark Room

How to Choose the Right Light Bulb KELVINS for Your Paint Colour

How to Make a Dark Room Feel Brighter with Sheen

The 5 Best Off-White Paint Colours

NEED HELP? WANT TO LEARN MORE?

Check out my affordable Online Consulting Services!

Chat soon,

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN FOR YOU IN 2018, AWESOMELY UPDATED IN 2023

The post How Much Light (Watts) Does a Room Need? appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

‘A vig WHAT?’ you might ask. A vignette is essentially a small-scale decorative display full of your purdy and important things – please don’t ask me to pronounce it correctly. All I know is that it starts off sounding like vin, which also sounds like the French word for wine, so I’M IN!

There are many opportunities to create a beautiful vignette in your home, and I’m going to give you some tips/steps on how to add a beautiful display to your space!

STEP 1: CHOOSE A SPOT THAT NEEDS SOME INSPIRATION

Find a spot that you see every day, that needs a little decorative love, such as:

• side table
• console/sofa table
• inside corner of the kitchen countertop
• top of a buffet or dresser
• short or single-shelf
• coffee table
• accent table
• empty corner

Surfaces that aren’t good for vignettes (right now)…

• FULL-scale bookshelf displays
• fireplace mantel
• a long shelf or buffet/cabinet
• the top of a piano
• really, almost any surface longer than 4′

Why aren’t these surfaces contenders for a vignette?

They are, but they need MORE than one. And for now, we’re keeping things simple. When you’re ready to learn about larger-scale decorating, check out my blog post, How to Decorate a Bookshelf: 4 Easy Tips to Follow or How to Decorate a Fireplace Mantel

Let’s start off by looking at a gorgeous little corner vignette in my client’s bedroom…

Paint Colours: BM Collingwood and Escarpment

HOW MANY PIECES ARE IN A DECORATING VIGNETTE?

There can be MANY pieces in a vignette, but to keep things a bit more meat n’ potatoes, we’re sticking with odd numbers/lower ones like one, three, and five. Remember, these numbers are FLEXIBLE because multiple grouped items can ACT like one; for example, a stack of books is variable as you might have three books, but they ACT as one item.

Please note, I rely 99.9% on after photos from my E-Design clients, who aren’t always professional photographers but do allow me to share REAL homes with you guys, and I’m grateful for them! 

STEP 1: PLACE YOUR FOUNDATION PIECE FIRST

The FOUNDATION piece applies when creating a vignette with a wall space behind it.

If you DON’T have any wall space behind your flat surface, you can move on to Step 2!

A vignette can be as simple as this table with the mirror and decor pieces in front!

The foundation piece will be the backdrop to your horizontal display. It’s also the best way to set the stage for layering, an important part of your display!

EXAMPLES OF VIGNETTE FOUNDATION PIECES

• a piece of artwork/photography
• a mirror
• metalwork or woodwork that is wall-mounted
• wall-mounted tapestry
• clock (usually 30″+)

In this next photo, the carving is the foundation piece…

In this photo, the art on the wall is the foundation piece…

And you can’t just hang it all willy-nilly; you’ll want to hang it based on some guidelines I’m not going to go into here as it’s a TON of info. Instead, once you’re done reading this blog post, check this out: The Right Height to Hang Artwork 

Please note, that you’ll ALSO need this next piece!

STEP 2: PLACE YOUR ANCHOR PIECE

If you don’t have a wall space behind your decorative zone, your anchor piece is the FIRST PIECE in your arrangement! 

The ANCHOR piece is your MAIN decorative piece that’s going on your flat surface. If you don’t have a wall behind your surface, this anchor piece is even more important as it IS the piece de resistance of the whole display! In the last photo, the CHAIR is the anchor piece.

This next photo shows a great example of an anchor piece, just not in the right place for a vignette!

Sherwin Williams Pure White

Examples of an anchor piece…

• vase with or without flowers/branches in it
• LAMP (oh, I LOVE having light in a vignette!)
• stack of books with a decorative item on top
• slightly larger scale, dominant decorative item
• leaning piece of artwork (which is really more of a foundation piece)
• chair or bench if you’re decorating a floor space

The anchor piece is OFTEN, the tallest item in a vignette. So, you’ll want to place it slightly further back if possible. It can also be the LARGEST instead of the tallest.

In this next photo, while there is wall space behind the shelf, it isn’t suitable for hanging art…

In this case, the plant is the anchor as it’s the TALLEST and the STRONGEST item via its colour/contrast.

STEP 3: PLACE YOUR SECONDARY PIECE

Secondary pieces are often the second largest or most noticeable items. Alternatively, they can be one of a pair (and the other one would be your finishing piece in Step 5). Secondary items should not be as strong or noticeable as the anchor, but should still add value to the display and connection with the other pieces via colour, texture, theme, etc…

Your secondary piece will usually go to the left or right of the anchor.

The secondary piece could/should be:

• smaller and/or not as dominant as the anchor
• placed a bit to the right or left of the anchor

Examples of secondary pieces (assuming they HAVEN’T been used already as an ANCHOR)…

• vase
• plant
• small stack of books
• decorative item
• framed photo

In the end, we’ll create a decorative triangle (once we add the final item) – SO EXCITING!

In this next photo, I’m breaking the rules with the sofa table as it’s a bit long for a typical vignette, but it’s a GREAT example when combined with the coffee table.

Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray

Notice how the coffee table’s colors (green, white, and wood) pick up on what’s happening on the sofa table in the background…

• Coffee table: What a fabulous group of three and the perfect mini-vignette!
• Sofa table: On the left-hand side, the plant is the anchor. On the right side, the lamp is the only anchor. This homeowner valued SIMPLICITY, and I had to push her comfort zone even to get those items on there!
• Sofa table: On the left side, the frame is the secondary piece as it’s shorter, not as visually strong, and to the right of the plant. Add in the decorative wood bowl, and we’ve got our decorative triangle!

In this next example, you’ll see that only one item was needed on the narrow black sofa table (it has beach glass in it for interest). However, let’s look at the cabinet to the left of the fireplace…

Sherwin Williams Colonnade Gray

The foundation piece and anchor are in place, but the rest isn’t quite cutting it. How could it be improved?

• The flow would be better if the plant were on the far right side and the stack of books/decorative items was in the middle instead (the other small white item is a Google Home and could be tucked behind the lamp)
• Even better, a plant in a slightly smaller pot would’ve looked good on the stack of books right where they are. I would then treat the left side as its own vignette area, with the lamp, a small framed picture just to the right of the lamp (approx 5×7 photo), and then the Google Home in front as our third (and necessary) item – sometimes function comes before fashion! That grouping would give us a nicely layered decorative triangle and some nice stacking on the right-hand side. To learn more about stacking, read this: How to Decorate a Bookshelf: 4 Easy Tips

Before we get to the FINAL piece, we’ll slip an extra step in…

STEP 4: LAYER & STACK YOUR DECOR

It’s vital to add depth to your vignette; the best way to do that is via layering and stacking. Layering, also known as staggering, involves having the tallest-largest item at the back (usually the anchor), the medium-sized piece to the side (usually the secondary piece), and the smallest in the front (the finishing piece). These should be staggered from each other, not all in a line/row. Arranging your accessories like this also hits my happy place regarding the Groups of Three rule.

Let’s take another look at that photo from the beginning…

Stacking is another important element to a display and is a GREAT way to shift the eye and add visual interest, as shown in the above photo with the black books/small vase near the top. Stacking is where you place one item on top of another, almost ALWAYS involving a book(s) with a decorative item on top. To learn more about stacking, check out this blog post HERE.

In the above photo, let’s talk about what works…

• Each shelf has its own vignette, with either ONE item or THREE
• The green accent colour is noted in three places – the plant, rug, and bathroom vanity. Even though they aren’t in the same exact spot, there is a CLEAR colour connection
• Check out this next vignette, and then we’ll break it down…

STEP 5: ADD THE FINISHING PIECE

You’re almost done! Now, you just need to finish it off.

Examples of finishing pieces (assuming they haven’t been used yet):

• horizontal books underneath the anchor or secondary item (this is one of my favorite finishing piece ideas)
• trinket bowl
• small framed photo
• smaller version of a secondary piece (i.e., a candle holder that’s smaller than the other)
• small decorative item

This piece generally goes to the front, often between the anchor and the secondary piece.

Let’s look at this dining table next…

Sherwin Williams Pavestone

• the anchor is the tall vase, although I wouldn’t mind seeing SLIGHTLY more substantial branches in it, slightly drooping
• the secondary piece is the stack of plates/bowl (it could almost be the anchor)
• and we round it out with the tray of nuts in the front
• also, notice the lovely ole bear enjoying a spot of tea

In this next photo, the side table has a vignette on it…

• The foundation piece is the lamp.
• The secondary piece is the stack of books with the candle holder on top (yes, they can act as ONE!)
• The finishing piece is the bowl in front. I would just shift those books a bit more so that the covers are facing forward (another 15 degrees) and then tuck the bowl a bit further back, in between the lamp/books, creating more of a triangle.

Sherwin Williams Pure White / 4 Ideas: How to Jazz up a Subway Tile

If things aren’t flowing, take a peek at this quick checklist…

• Do the colors all belong to the same colour family/palette?
• Do any of the textures enhance or overwhelm the display?
• Do your items SUIT each other, or do they fight?
• Have you staggered things the right way? Do you need more layering?
• Do you have a solid foundation piece and anchor?
• Do you have VARIATION in the finish (i.e., not all crystal finishes or all wood)?

This next bookcase is FULL of loving pieces, as well as store-bought decor. Notice how each shelf flows all on its own, as well as how it relates to the shelves above/below it…

Okay, are you exhausted? I’M NOT – I COULD DO THIS ALL DAY LONG! But seriously, that’s probably enough for this blog post…

READ MORE

Furniture Layout & Decorating Ideas: Balanced & Symmetry

The Best WHOLE HOME Warm & Neutral Paint Colors

How to Create a TIMELESS Home: 4 -PART SERIES

4 Easy Steps to Accessorize a Mantel

The Right Height to Hang Artwork and Mirrors

NEED HELP?

Check out my E-Books & Online Paint Colour Consulting packages

Chat soon,

Originally written in 2017, awesome updated in 2023

The post How to Decorate With Vignettes (Home Decor) appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

When it comes to painting any type of cabinet, there are SO many awesome colors to choose from! But in particular, vanities and islands offer GREAT opportunities for some serious PERSONALITY.

Why?

Because it’s easier to commit to something a bit different and ‘out of the box’ on a smaller scale vs. a large scale project like an ENTIRE KITCHEN, which can be costly to redo in five years if you’re tired of the color (or five months if you’re like me).

However, personality doesn’t always come in the form of a wild and wonderful color; many neutrals add interest to a room without tipping the scales. We’ll be touching on some of these days, AS WELL AS, a few wicked, wonderful brighter, darker shades of green.

But why does this blog post focus on gray, greige, and green only?

Some of the most popular shades of gray have green undertones; others are balanced between the two colors and are open to perception. As for greige, greige is neutral with green undertones (whereas taupe has violet undertones). For this reason, partnering these three colors in one blog post makes sense, so you can decide which DEGREE of green you want to see!

However, there are a few great gray options that don’t have any green undertones at all! 

And a HUGE thank you to my E-design and local clients, for sending me their ‘after’ photos – I couldn’t do this without you!

THE BEST GRAY VANITY, CABINET, OR ISLAND COLORS

Gray is a great way to add interest to a bathroom or kitchen without going over the top. And while light gray cabinets are no longer trendy, dark grays, especially those with interesting undertones, are still going strong.

As for the grays listed below, most have either a little or a LOT of green in them.

1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ROYCROFT PEWTER 2848

If you like a gray that’s a bit of a chameleon, look no further than Roycroft Pewter. With its unique blend of blue and green undertones, Roycroft Pewter is a unique take on gray due to its undertones, which can shift between green and blue depending on your PERCEPTION and surroundings.

Roycroft Pewter has an LRV of 13, making it a medium-dark color. And don’t expect those undertones to sit passively, as they will DEFINITELY show up to the party!

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Roycroft Pewter

LRV & Paint Colors: The Ultimate Guide You Need to Read

2. BENJAMIN MOORE CHELSEA GRAY HC-168

Chelsea Gray is a solid, medium-toned gray that has been a fan fave for years. And while it’s FRACTIONALLY warm (you’d hardly know it), it acts more like a standard charcoal and can sometimes pick up a SUPER  vague green undertone.

FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray

3. BENJAMIN MOORE METROPOLIS CC-546

Metropolis is a beautiful medium-toned WARM gray (almost taupe), with a subtle purple undertone – that’s right, there’s not a wink o’ green to be found in this bad boy! When it comes to homes built in the early 2000s, particularly those with granite countertops, Metropolis is a popular choice as it often suits the TYPE of gray found in these finishes.

See the AWESOME before and after of the above bathroom HERE

FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Metropolis

4. BENJAMIN MOORE AMHERST GRAY HC-167

Amherst Gray is similar to Chelsea Gray but is darker, and the green undertone in Amherst Gray can sometimes show up just a wink more (depending on the products you partner it with and your lighting/exposure).

FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Amherst Gray

5. SHERWIN WILLIAMS GAUNTLET GRAY 7019

Gauntlet Gray is one of the darkest, warmest grays available. As some warm grays darken, they pick up too much brown – not Gauntlet Gray. While it has some warmth, you’re still left with an overwhelmingly GRAY paint color.

As for undertones, Gauntlet Gray is flexible between green and purple, meaning it doesn’t commit to either. If you’re nervous of ANY undertone and hope for that ever-elusive ‘gray with no undertones,’ Gauntlet Gray (and Dovetail, listed next) could be as close as you get.

This next kitchen is still being completed, but is a great shot of Gauntlet Gray…

The 9 Best Benjamin Moore Gray Paint Colors

FULL REVIEW OF SHERWIN WILLIAMS GAUNTLET GRAY HERE 

And remember, when you’re choosing the best gray paint color for your vanity, you need to pay CLOSE attention to the needs of your tiles and countertop. Find out which undertones you’re working with and coordinate your gray paint color from there! Every gray will have undertones, and you’ll want to ensure they partner up!

6. SHERWIN WILLIAMS DOVETAIL 7018

Dovetail is like a lighter version of Gauntlet Gray. This means that it’s also a warm gray with flexible and non-committal undertones. As for LRV, Gauntlet Gray sits at 17, whereas Dovetail is a good dose lighter at 26, putting it in the medium depths.

Sherwin Williams Dovetail Paint Color Review

7. BENJAMIN MOORE KITTY GRAY 1589

With its blend of green, blue, and gray, Kitty Gray is a great way to make a statement without going over the top with color. This is because while Kitty Gray does cater a bit more to green, it’s heavily grounded by gray, and has blue mixed in for moderation.

Compared to the others, Kitty Gray is DEFINITELY more colorful, without dipping right into the green pool.

THE BEST GREEN COLORS FOR VANITIES, CABINETS, OR ISLANDS

Whether it’s a green-blue blend, emerald-inspired, or leaning into the mossy end of things, green is definitely one of today’s more popular cabinet colors!

1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS EVERGREEN FOG 9130

If you’re looking for a more subtle take on green, Evergreen Fog is a medium-depth green with just the right amount of gray to calm it down without taking away the ‘green’ of it. As for temperature, Evergreen Fog doesn’t lean overly warm or cool, giving off a more ‘smoky’ look.

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog

2. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ISLE OF PINES 6461

Isle of Pines is a gorgeous green. While it winks at the Kelly Green end of things, it’s not as intense and is more emerald-inspired.

The 8 Best Green Paint Colors

Click HERE or on the above image to see available packages

3. SHERWIN WILLIAMS RIPE OLIVE 6209

Ripe Olive is a dark shade of green with a rich undercurrent. When it comes to cabinets, Ripe Olive offers a commitment to green without going anywhere NEAR Kelly or Emerald Green.

As shown in this next kitchen, Ripe Olive’s LRV of 6 is striking with off-white quartz countertops. And sure, you see GREEN, but it’s not punchy…

4. BENJAMIN MOORE SALAMANDER 2050-10

Salamander is one of Benjamin Moore’s most popular green paint colors for cabinets, color-washing, and front doors. This dark shade of green has a slightly cool tone (green-blue) and a reasonable saturation, meaning it’s not just dark (with an LRV of 5.72 ), but it’s also reasonably colorful.

Remember that you should never pick paint colors based on how they look horizontally or at an angle. ALWAYS place them 100% vertically so you can see how the light (natural and artificial) bounces off them.

Here’s Salamander and a few other popular shades of green (again, they should be totally vertical)…

The Best Medium & Dark Green Paint Colors

THE BEST GREIGE COLORS FOR CABINETS

Greige is another great choice and can sometimes work better than gray if you’re trying to transition out of the beige end of things. I say ‘sometimes’ as some bathrooms just CAN’T pull off gray or greige – it all depends on the existing finishes and what they can tolerate!

1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS URBANE BRONZE 7048

Urbane Bronze is a WICKED gorgeous, super dark greige paint color. Some of my Online Paint Color clients see the green undertones and love them; others don’t see them at all – it just depends on the surrounding environment and your perception.

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze

The 4 Best Gray and Greige Paint Colors for Cabinets and Vanities

2. BENJAMIN MOORE KINGSPORT GRAY HC-86

Kingsport Gray is an awesome medium-toned greige paint color, planted nicely between gray and beige with an allegiance to beige/brown over gray.

However, while some greiges commit hard to their green undertone, Kingsport Gray comes in way more muted, so the green isn’t noticeable unless you partner it with finishes with an opposite (purple-pink) undertone.

FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Kingsport Gray

3. SHERWIN WILLIAMS KEYSTONE GRAY

Keystone Gray is one of my top greige paint colors for cabinets. While it’s similar to Kingsport Gray, it’s a bit lighter and less warm. It also has SUPER passive undertones that are hard-pressed to flash any green at all.

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Keystone Gray

SAMPLIZE offers peel-and-stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER, and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots.

• samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1 BUSINESS DAY
• they’re considerably more affordable than the sample pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling

Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE

4. SHERWIN WILLIAMS AGREEABLE GRAY

If you want light or off-white depth cabinets and love the subtle greige look, it’s hard to beat Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray. IN FACT, I wrote an entire blog post on it!

Agreeable Gray is a light depth greige with an LRV of 60. And while this might be a bit darker than you had in mind, remember that the sheen of cabinet paint (satin) can make a color look a bit lighter than expected. Check out Agreeable Gray in this beautiful kitchen…

Agreeable Gray has flexible undertones. While there’s a touch of green in it, it’s so subtle that it rarely shows up to the party in a big way. On the other hand, it also doesn’t flash overly green or violet, either!

We did Agreeable Gray in this budget-friendly kitchen remodel…

READ MORE

The Best White Paint Colors for Cabinets, Trims or Walls

Farrow & Ball’s 10 Best Blue Paint Colors

How to Choose the Best White Paint Color for your Cabinets

The 12 Best Navy Blue Paint Colors for Cabinets, Islands, Front Doors & More

The Best DARK Greige & Taupe Paint Colors

LET ME PICK YOUR BEST COLORS FOR YOU!

Check out my Online Color Consulting packages; I’d love to help!

Chat soon,

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN JULY 2019, UPDATED IN 2022

The post The Best Gray, Greige, & Green Colors for Bathroom Vanities, Kitchen Islands, or Cabinets appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

I’ve spent a lot of time writing blog posts on how to decorate everything from bookshelves and mantels to side tables and walls and found that I was referring to the SAME concepts repeatedly, without any real LANDING page for all of those guidelines and rules.

So I made one!

This is a BRIEF post, designed to give you the general description and application of each term. I have in-depth details and photos in much larger blog posts; they’re just spread out amongst 3-4 articles, whereas the info is all in one spot here for you! THIS BEING SAID, I fully encourage you to read MORE about these ideas in the links provided BEFORE you tackle a big decorating project!

1. WHAT IS A DECORATIVE TRIANGLE?

A Decorative Triangle is when you place three items with the goal of them visually connecting. Once everything is in place, you should be able to draw a line between the pieces and create a triangle.

This triangle can be a on a small scale, as shown in this next example…

Or it can be a LARGE triangle, as shown with this fireplace mantel…

If you want to learn MORE about Decorative Triangles and see some pretty pictures, check out this blog post…

How to Decorate a Mantel: 4 Guidelines to Follow

2. STACKING & LAYERING YOUR HOME DECOR

STACKING

Stacking is placing one item on top of another and almost ALWAYS applies to books. You would use a small number of books (often coffee table style books vs. small novels) and put them in a stack. Then, top them with a smaller decorative item, one that doesn’t come close to overlapping the edge of the books. If you are to draw a quasi-triangle, the decorative item would be the PEAK of the triangle.

LAYERING

Layering (sometimes called staggering – which is what I do on Friday nights after my two token glasses of wine), is a way to add depth and interest to your decorative triangle.

• The tallest item goes at the back of the display (it’s the anchor).
• The second-largest item goes to the right or left of the anchor (this is a secondary piece).
• The final item goes in front of the last two pieces (this is the finishing piece). It can also go UNDER one of the other pieces if you want to use a book

3. THE RULE OF THREE & ODD NUMBERS IN HOME DECOR

The Rule of Three and Odd Numbers states that odd numbers look better than even numbers. This is always tough as there are MANY EXCEPTIONS – sometimes two of something is perfect, other times, FOUR of something is even better! However, when you’re beginning your decorating adventures, using odd numbers in your decor is a great way to learn how to layer, stagger, and create a decorative triangle – and you can branch out from there.

If you want to learn more about this rule, I’ve got WAY more info in this blog post…

The Rule of Three and Odd Numbers in Decorating

WHAT IS A VIGNETTE IN DECORATING?

A vignette is a way of placing your home decor, and sometimes even furniture, so that the pieces look visually connected and your flows from one piece to the other with minimal interruption – it looks effortless.

In making a vignette, you often use the previous three topics – decorative triangles, stacking/staggering/layering, and the rule of odd numbers.

How to Create a Decorative Vignette

READ MORE

4-PART SERIES – HOW TO CREATE A TIMELESS HOME

The Best WHOLE HOME Gray & Greige Paint Colors

5 Ideas to Update Your Fireplace

The 6 Best Off-White Paint Colors

NEED HELP? 

Check out my E-BOOKS and Online Paint Colour Consulting packages

Chat soon,

UPDATED IN 2023

The post The Main Rules & Guidelines of Decorating & Accessorizing appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Do you want your countertops to look like travertine, marble, or concrete without the MAINTENANCE or cost? Some of my most POPULAR bathrooms and kitchens on my INSTAGRAM are those with laminate countertops – not quartz, not granite, but LAMINATE! And while I’ve already done a blog post on how AWESOME the new laminate countertops are, I want to go in a bit closer with a few of my faves.

And just so you know, I’m not getting paid to promote any of the products I’ve shown you on this page. I pay myself in wine, Starbucks, and self-high-fives.

PROS & CONS OF LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS

• PRO: CONSIDERABLY more affordable than quartz or granite, often 3-5 times less expensive

• PRO: TONS of options that mimic the look of marble, stone, and more

• PRO: you can keep your existing sink if it happens to be standard (not under-mount)

• PRO: some laminate countertops can be combined in a kitchen with a quartz island (mix and match)

• PRO: look awesome with a subway tile backsplash for a modern look

• CON: will stain or scratch if you work at it (but are made to be pretty hardy for the price)

• CON: isn’t heat-resistant (very basic resistance)

• CON: any open ends will have a visible seam

• CON: while some have installed an under-mount sink, it’s generally not recommended

• CON: while a NEW laminate pattern is better than an outdated one, overall, laminate doesn’t always add to the RESALE value of a home

LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS THAT LOOK LIKE MARBLE

I LOVE the look of an authentic marble countertop; I DON’T love the maintenance of it – momma wants to put her red wine glass down wherever she wants! And while quartz countertops offer GREAT-looking alternatives without the maintenance, they still come with a hefty price. Sure, laminate countertops aren’t as HARDY as quartz, but they’re a fraction of the price and WICKED pretty in the right space.

Formica Calacatta Marble is one of my faves as it gives a SUPER modern look, similar to marble without the MAINTENANCE. With the square wrap profile on the front, it’s got the look of marble for under $400! If you want the reverse look, so black base with white/gray veining, check out Formica Jet Sequoia.

See all of this bathroom HERE

The Best Paint Colours for Kitchen Islands or Lower Cabinets

A well-chosen laminate countertop can look stunning while coming in at a FRACTION of the price of quartz or granite. And I’m not talking about hundreds of dollars; I’m talking THOUSANDS of dollars (particularly in a kitchen). While there are some ‘affordable’ lines of quartz and granite out there, they don’t come ANYWHERE near the reduced price of laminate.

REMEMBER, countertops usually come in a VARIETY of finishes (matte, etched, honed, etc…) Check out your OPTIONS before you order! 

FORMICA CARRARA BIANCO

If you don’t love the more graphic veining in Calacatta Marble, you might like the subtler approach of Carrara Bianco. You’ll see it has less/black gray and a subtle gray veining with a violet undertone (remember, every gray has undertones!). Again, this countertop looks a HECK of a lot like marble!

Paint Colour Sherwin Williams Pure White

3 Steps to Picking the Best White Paint Colours

LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS THAT LOOK LIKE CONCRETE

It’s hard to beat the organic look of real concrete countertops, but they stain easily and require yearly maintenance. For MUCH less money and stress, you can get the look without the work!

ARBORITE INUKSHUK GRAY

Inukshuk Gray is one of my fave concrete-look countertops for an organic, natural look. While this next project shows Inukshuk Gray in a matte finish, you can also get it glossy if you prefer a more polished look. I’d also love to see that edge a bit more squared off…

If you look at a sample of Inukshuk up close, you’ll see that it has small white flecks for visual interest.

Cabinets painted Benjamin Moore Cheating Heart / Walls Sherwin Williams Pure White

Sure, laminate countertops can stain too. But show me a concrete countertop and a laminate countertop that were both installed ten years ago, and I BET the laminate countertop is in better shape.

LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS THAT LOOK LIKE STONE OR TRAVERTINE

I know that MANY of you curse your early 2000s travertine tile, but if you ask me, travertine is a GORGEOUS product – warm, textured, and a great way to add interest to a space. In fact, I’d go so far as to pick up that look on my countertops…

5 Ideas to Update Your 1990s Home

SILVER TRAVERTINE BY FORMICA

Formica Travertine Silver is a beautiful laminate with a range of greige and warm tones. This countertop often works with bathrooms with almond and bone fixtures as it has some of those colors in its pattern.

I’ve had clients want to use Silver Travertine in kitchens, but because of the strong linear veining, it doesn’t look good on countertops that aren’t one piece (where the slab meets in the corner, the lines/pattern of the countertop gets pretty mismatched). However, in a bathroom with its straight-run of countertop, it’s a beautiful choice, particularly if your floor tile is more subdued.

Vanity colour Benjamin Moore Kingsport Gray

The perimeter countertop in this next kitchen is an older-style laminate countertop that looks like travertine. My client did an awesome job transitioning it with new finishes in her budget-friendly kitchen overhaul!

See this whole project HERE

The 6 Best Paint Colours for Bathroom Vanities (or Kitchen Islands & Cabinets)

LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS THAT ARE VERSATILE FOR THOSE TRICKIER PROJECTS

When updating a home, replacing every surface is not always feasible. This means you’re often working with tiles, fixtures, or finishes that aren’t EXACTLY what you had in mind. Luckily, a few countertops help transition outdated finishes into a new decade.

FORMICA EBONY OXIDE OR WILSONART OILED SOAPSTONE

Black is often a popular choice for those wanting to update a space without having to do EVERY surrounding finish. Ebony Oxide and Oiled Soapstone are great examples of black countertops that still have visual interest.

FORMICA SOAPSTONE SEQUOIA

Soapstone Sequoia is one of my favorite laminate countertops. To save money on our kitchen remodel (in our last home), we partnered Soapstone Sequoia with quartz on the island – saving THOUSANDS while adding some serious style to the island…

With its subtle veining and WARMTH, Soapstone Sequoia is great for those who prefer the warmer end of things without dipping hard into the beige or cream pools.

Is Beige Back? Is Beige…TRENDY?

See the BEFORE & AFTERS of this budget-friendly remodel!

Because I rely 100% on my Online Paint Color Consulting clients for their photos (REAL HOMES with REAL BUDGETS), I don’t have photos of all my faves. So, if you’re looking for a flexible laminate countertop that’s a WARMER, check out…

• FORMICA MOCHA TRAVERTINE
• FORMICA PALOMA BISQUE
• FORMICA CREMA MASCARELLO
• FORMICA ANTIQUE MASCARELLO

THE 8 BEST LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS (QUICK SUMMARY)

1. Formica Calacatta Marble
2. Formica Carrara Bianco
3. Formica Jet Sequoia
4. Formica Ebony Oxide
5. Wilsonart Oiled Soapstone
6. Arborite Inukshuk Gray
7. Formica Silver Travertine
8. Formica Soapstone Sequoia

Now, let’s check out some of the most common questions about laminate countertops…

WHICH IS BETTER, FORMICA OR LAMINATE?

Formica is a BRAND of laminate countertop, so when you talk about Formica, you’re talking about laminate! The same goes for Wilsonart and Arborite – they’re brands of laminate countertop.

HOW LONG DO LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS LAST?

This is up to you. I’ve seen laminate countertops 30 years in that are still in great shape. However, the more cutting you do ON your countertop and the more hot pots and pans they see, the more you’ll reduce the lifespan of your countertop. In the average kitchen or bathroom that receives normal wear and tear, 10-20 years is a good estimate.

WHAT TYPE OF COUNTERTOP LASTS THE LONGEST?

The answer would definitely be quartz. However, with proper maintenance, granite is also a great countertop product.

The 8 Best Warm Quartz Countertops for Upcoming Trends

WHAT’S THE BEST EDGE FOR A LAMINATE COUNTERTOP?

A bullnose (or square-wrap) profile is definitely the most popular when it comes to laminate countertops. This gives a soft, subtle profile – no sharp edge, but without the rounded look of laminate countertops from previous decades.

CAN YOU PUT HOT POTS & PANS ON LAMINATE?

There’s a difference between CAN and SHOULD. While you CAN put somewhat hot pots on your laminate countertop for a short period (as I have), you SHOULDN’T, as you risk leaving a burn mark/discoloration.

Outdated laminate countertops can look MUCH BETTER surrounded by the right paint colors! 

The Best Paint Colours for Kitchen Islands & Bathroom Vanities

HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS?

Unlike granite and marble, which require sealing, laminate countertops are EASY to maintain and keep clean with soap and water!

CAN YOU PAINT LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS?

You DEFINITELY can, and this is a great solution if you’re on a budget and your current countertop needs some TLC.

While this blog post isn’t SPECIFIC to painting laminate countertops, here are the basics…

1. CLEAN WITH A DEGREASER
2. LIGHTLY SAND TO BREAK UP THE SURFACE WITHOUT BREAKING IT ‘DOWN’
3. WIPE WITH A TACK CLOTH TO REMOVE ALL SANDING DUST
4. USE A HIGH-ADHESION PRIMER – TWO COATS (you might consider a food-safe one)
5. USE QUALITY PAINT THAT’S MADE FOR THIS PURPOSE – TWO COATS (your local paint store will have a suggestion based on their particular lines of paint)
6. AS FOR A TOPCOAT/RESIN, IT DEPENDS ON THE PAINT YOU USE, AS SOME PAINTS MIGHT NOT NEED A TOPCOAT

READ MORE

The 8 Best Countertops for Coming Trends

Quartz vs. Granite Countertops: What’s the Difference?

4 Tile & Shiplap Ideas for a Small Bathroom

4 Ideas to Update Your Kitchen on a Budget

The Best Bathroom SINKS & FAUCETS on a Budget

How to Make a Small Bathroom Look FABULOUS

NEED HELP?

CHECK OUT MY ONLINE PAINT COLOR CONSULTING 

Chat soon,

WRITTEN IN 2017, COMPLETELY CHANGED & UPDATED IN 2023

The post The 8 Best BOUGIE Laminate COUNTERTOPS on a Budget appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

While stainless steel is undoubtedly the most popular appliance finish for a kitchen, black takes a close second and white…well, that’s a whole different topic.

Today we’re going to focus on black appliances and how to integrate them into your kitchen design without sticking them out like a sore thumb. So whether you’re buying new appliances or trying to update your kitchen with existing ones, these tips will get you on the right track!

DO BLACK APPLIANCES LOOK GOOD WITH WHITE CABINETS?

It’s touch-and-go. Remember, just because you WANT to do something doesn’t mean you SHOULD do it.

Why don’t black appliances & white cabinets always work? 

• Black appliances and white cabinets create a HIGH-CONTRAST palette. There’s a time and place for contrast, but this isn’t ALWAYS between appliances and cabinets.
• This high-contrast approach makes the appliances more prominent. Unless you’ve invested in a wicked-pretty and EXPENSIVE designer oven, you miiiiight not want the appliances to be your kitchen’s crowning decorative glory.
• Contrast makes a space look smaller.

Do you want your appliances to be your kitchen’s main feature?

Whether black appliances and white cabinets are BFFs comes down to two things…

1. the OTHER finishes in your kitchen (countertop/backsplash/flooring)

2. perception (your personal opinion)

Let’s start with your appliance’s surrounding finishes. Dark appliances look FAR more at home in a kitchen with another dark feature for the appliances to connect with, IN PARTICULAR, black countertops (or at least SUPER DARK ones).

Why would the above combo work? BLACK COUNTERTOPS

Because I don’t recommend this black-and-white combo very often, I don’t have many photos from my Paint Color Consulting clients to show you. I also don’t ‘borrow’ from other sites. However, I can show you kitchens that COULD handle black appliances, like the one above. 

As for PERCEPTION, it comes down to what you think looks good – heck, it’s your home; you need to be happy! Many people LOVE the look of white cabinets with black appliances, reveling in the contrast and dynamic energy this palette creates. PERSONALLY, there are very few kitchens that I think look good with white cabinets and black appliances, which leads to our next topic…

HOW TO MAKE BLACK APPLIANCES & WHITE CABINETS LOOK GOOD

Right now, you might be thinking, ‘darn it, I REALLY want to paint my cabinets white, but I have black appliances!’ Here’s the BEST THING you can have in your kitchen…

BLACK COUNTERTOPS (or at least VERY, VERY dark ones)

Again, I don’t have any Color Consulting clients who’ve done white cabinets/black appliances (we usually avoid it). Still, with its black countertops and metal finishes, this next kitchen could EASILY handle a black fridge, stove, and dishwasher…

Learn more about high and low contrast via this small bathroom article

Why COULD the above kitchen handle black appliances?

• black countertop
• black light fixtures
• black furnishings

These all will give your appliances some good visual support. HOWEVER, stainless steel is still the best choice for this space.

As shown in this next photo, medium or dark-colored countertops will give your appliances something ‘visual’ to grab onto. While it’s still a high-contrast look, it helps soften the blow.

Dark countertop? Check. Dark island? Check. Dark accents? CHECK!

WHAT IF YOU DON’T/CAN’T HAVE BLACK COUNTERTOPS?

While a few other ideas can help your appliances feel more connected, the idea still makes me a lil twitchy…

• paint your island BLACK, giving your appliances something to connect with
• consider white upper cabinets and black lower cabinets, again, for visual connection – this is my fave option of the two

The 4 Best Gray & Greige Paint Colors for Kitchen Cabinets & Vanities

WHAT COLOR/FINISH CABINET HARDWARE GOES WITH BLACK APPLIANCES?

While you MIGHT think black handles and knobs are the answer, they can negatively affect the balance/level of contrast. I usually recommend polished nickel; keeping black for rare occasions.

WHAT CABINET COLORS (OTHER THAN WHITE) GO WITH BLACK APPLIANCES?

Now we’re getting into my wheelhouse. There’s a WIDE selection of paint colors that work with black appliances, including black, gray, blue, and green. And not just these, many WOOD stained cabinets can look smashing.

Again, MOST of my clients have stainless steel appliances, hence the lack of photos. However, you’ll still see some great examples.

GRAY OR GREIGE PAINTED CABINETS WITH BLACK APPLIANCES

The AFFORDABLE laminate countertop in this next photo and the dark lower cabinet color could EASILY accommodate a completely black stove…

The dark gray of the cabinets (Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray), dark countertop, and details in the backsplash help the black appliances feel RIGHT AT home in this next kitchen…

The above space also has dark hardware (oil-rubbed bronze). While these would create a high-contrast look on white cabinets, they’re a more classic look on these darker cabinets without adding undue stress to the balance.

In this next photo, you’ll see stainless steel, but black COULD work, thanks to the black countertops!

Benjamin Moore Kitty Gray

The Best Medium-Depth Greige & Taupe Paint Colors

While we don’t see any appliances in this next photo, you can see how black would look low contrast and simple against the Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze cabinets…

Notice there are other dark elements for black appliances to tie into, including dark chairs in the backdrop and black metal pendant lights.

A FEW MORE CABINET PAINT COLORS TO GO WITH BLACK APPLIANCES

When it comes to choosing the best color for your cabinets, the backsplash and countertop call the BIGGEST shots. However, you can often include black appliances in the palette with the following colors…

• Benjamin Moore Pashmina
• darker greige paint colors
• Sherwin Williams Dovetail or Gauntlet Gray
• Sherwin Williams Keystone Gray
• almost any white paint color (the one that suits your backsplash/countertop)
• some darker green paint colors

SAMPLING PAINT COLORS WITH PEEL & STICK

Undoubtedly, you’ll be heading out soon to grab paint samples – stop there! I want you to check out SAMPLZE. Samplize offers peel-and-stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER, and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots. Here are just a few reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients…

• samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1 DAY, depending on the location

• they’re more affordable than the samples pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling

• if you keep the samples on their white paper, you can move them around the room

WHAT WALL PAINT COLORS GO WITH BLACK APPLIANCES?

When picking a paint color to suit black appliances, it’s LESS about your appliance and MORE about your countertop, backsplash, and flooring. That’s right, let your appliances be a MINOR part of the process, as these other finishes will be calling the shots.

Generally speaking, kitchens with black appliances often suit…

• light warm neutrals such as subtle creams and more muted, modern beiges (with warm surrounding finishes)
• subtle light depth gray, greige and taupe paint colors (with slightly cooler surrounding finishes)

WOOD CABINETS WITH BLACK APPLIANCES

Unlike white cabinets, wood cabinets allow a ‘bit’ more room for black appliances as the combo isn’t as high contrast. That is, assuming your wood stain is mid-range or darker. This means you don’t necessarily NEED black countertops, as long as you integrate black somewhere in your finishes (check this out – I could do without the black range hood, but the hardware is STUNNING)

The oak cabinets in this next kitchen look SHARP with the black microwave. And while there’s a bit of mix and match with the stainless stove (I’d rather see the appliances ALL black), the overall look is working…

In the above situation, black hardware looks GREAT as it’s not as high contrast on the wood cabinets compared to white cabinets. A great way to update the above kitchen would be to add a medium-depth taupe subway tile backsplash, pulling into the countertop colors.

PAINT ‘COLORS’ & BLACK APPLIANCES

While there isn’t a wide range of colors that suit black cabinets – the ones that DO work look pretty bangin’. And with these colors is where you’ll find it’s EASIER to get away without black countertops, as long as you bring black in somewhere else.

And unlike white cabinets, which are fussier, paint colors give you a bit more flexibility as to the range you can look at, including:

• medium-depth or darker green-grays as well as darker, STRONGER shades of green
• some blue hues, although green is a more NATURAL fit with black appliances

Generally speaking, the DARKER you go and/or the more STRIKING you go, the better chance you have of pulling off black, even WITHOUT black countertops! However, ensure you tie in black details SOMEWHERE in your design (i.e. cabinet hardware/faucet/light fixtures).

This next kitchen can BARELY handle black appliances (and is better suited to stainless steel). The paint color is Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog. Even if we bump down one shade darker to Dried Thyme, the palette would rest a little easier.

In the above kitchen, the black hardware would definitely help black appliances feel more at home WITHOUT needing a black countertop – again, it’s really only white to light depth cabinets that  NEED a black countertop.

PAINT COLOR IDEAS TO GO WITH BLACK APPLIANCES

• Sherwin Williams Grizzle Gray
• Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal
• Benjamin Moore Cheating Heart
• a wide range of medium to dark green paint colors
• a wide range of medium to dark blue paint colors; ideally those with a bit of gray mixed in
• Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black or Benjamin Moore Jet Black
• medium to dark gray paint colors – gray IS the lighter version of black!

HOW DO I BRIGHTEN A KITCHEN WITH BLACK APPLIANCES?

While black can weigh a space down, there are a few ways to brighten your kitchen up…

• white or off-white cabinets – definitely
• choose a backsplash that has a glossy sheen to it, helping to reflect light
• install under-cabinet lighting and improve your general lighting as much as possible (watch those KELVINS!)
• while black countertops might seem counterintuitive, in partnership with black appliances and a white, bright backsplash, the CONTRAST between these finishes will add energy to a kitchen!

READ MORE

3 Steps to Picking the Best White for Kitchen Cabinets

The Best Paint Colors for Kitchen Islands, Bathroom Vanities & More

6 Budget-Friendly Ideas to Update Your Home

So there you have it, my friends; I hope you found the inspiration you were looking for!

Chat soon,

Looking for personalized kitchen color ideas? 

Check out my Online Decorating and Color Consulting

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2017, UPDATED FOR YOU IN 2022!

The post What Paint Colors & Countertops Go With Black Appliances appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

I love marble. Its timeless and classic style makes it a top choice for many bathroom and kitchen renovations. HOWEVER, it’s freakin’ expensive and a big ole pain in the rear end when it comes to maintenance. I was going to go on a big ole Ginger rant, but I’ll let Edie tell you a few things here on her uber-fab blog post ‘Living With Marble – A Cautionary Tale.’

There are a few ways to get the MARBLE LOOK for a lower price…

• use a ‘MARBLE-LOOK’ product that mimics the real thing

• install your REAL marble in a THOUGHTFUL and BUDGET-CONSCIOUS way

So, let’s get these marble ROLLING with some great ideas to get you using marble in your own home.

1. IF YOU LOVE MARBLE, GO VERTICAL WITH IT

Marble on a VERTICAL SURFACE will be much easier to keep unblemished than on a horizontal surface as it won’t be as exposed to products that stain and etch.

MARBLE BACKSPLASH

While there’s a bit more square footage on a backsplash, the visual bang for buck is HUGE, and it’s cheaper and lower maintenance than marble countertops!

In this next bathroom, we only needed 15 square feet of marble to make a HUGE impact!

Sherwin Williams High Reflective White

You can do an amazing quartz countertop with a marble backsplash and get a different, but equally as stunning look. Quartz countertop is CONSIDERABLY lower maintenance than marble – I’d choose it ANY day for any project…

Sherwin Williams High Reflective White

MARBLE-LOOK TILE IN A SHOWER SURROUND

In this project, we did an affordable porcelain (marble look-a-like) on the walls to save on the budget and keep things low maintenance. HOWEVER, we did spend some good money on the hexagon marble tile accent (and it was worth it). However, we could’ve done the marble accent in the alcoves ONLY, and it still would’ve been beautiful.

A shower surround is usually a minimum of 70 square feet – that’s a LOT of tile. In this next bathroom, we chose a subway tile to save money and a gorgeous warm marble hexagon tile for the niche. Only SEVEN square feet of tile was needed, and it was worth every penny!

See the before and afters HERE

MARBLE VANITY BACKSPLASH

It doesn’t take much to make a big impact when it comes to marble, especially in a small bathroom.

See the full project HERE

This bathroom’s vanity area is a striking focal point with the marble-look countertop (learn about it below) and Chelsea Gray cabinets.

2. IMITATE THE LOOK OF MARBLE

There are so many fantastic products out there that look like marble. These are usually a) considerably less expensive and b) much more durable.

The Best Off-White & Light Depth Colors for Kitchen Cabinets

CHOOSE QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS THAT LOOK LIKE MARBLE

CAESARSTONE STATUARIO MAXIMUS is a GORGEOUS substitute for the real thing.

CAESARSTONE STATUARIO NUVO is another great option with a slightly softer look compared to Maximus.

SILESTONE LYRA is an interesting option. I’m not going to lie to you and say that it looks ‘just like marble’ because I find it not as veiny as the real thing. However, it will be MUCH more durable and still look pretty darn awesome.

CAMBRIA TORQUAY is another good one for the ‘marble-esque’ look with a whack-load more durability. Again, I don’t think it’s bang-on in the looks department; it’s MUCH more muted looking and has some warmth – still a great contender, though!

SILESTONE WHITE ARABESQUE has a slightly softer approach with a mottled background and gray veining.

CHOOSE PORCELAIN TILE THAT LOOKS LIKE MARBLE

In all three bathrooms below, we chose an affordable porcelain tile that LOOKS like marble, but is easier to maintain and considerably more affordable – style doesn’t need to cost a fortune!

3 Ideas to Add Personality to a Small Bathroom

See the full project here

CHOOSE MARBLE-LOOK LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS 

My fave idea of all!

Formica has a fabulous marble impersonator called Calacatta Marble. It’s a fraction of the cost, and while it is a laminate countertop (which has its own pros and cons), the overall look and durability are worth the value.

We chose the countertop above BECAUSE it looks JUST LIKE MARBLE! It’s pretty remarkable and a fraction of the cost.

LAMINATE/FORMICA COUNTERTOPS THAT LOOK LIKE MARBLE

• Wilsonart White Carrara (terrible online image, as most are)
• Formica Neo Cloud
• Wilsonart Calcutta Marble
• Formica Carrara Bianco
• Formica Calacatta Marble

The New Era of Laminate Countertops and Why They Rock

If I were to pick a product based on its COST, durability, and ability to withstand my bad habit of spilling everything I pour and the fact that I prefer cutting without a cutting board, I would choose laminate. I’m not saying it’s a superior product in the ‘design hoytie-toytie’ sense; I’m just saying I would trust it a HELL of a lot more than marble for everyday wear and tear. Plus, if I DID torch it, the replacement cost would be astronomically lower than replacing a hunk of marble (and ALL that being said, quartz is my favorite countertop product).

This post isn’t about trashing marble – it’s a fabulous product. It’s about doing your research to see what else is out there that can give you a similar look with a few additional perks (like freakin’ durability, people!)

READ MORE

A Contemporary Marble Bathroom – New Home

4 Tile & Shiplap Ideas for a Small Bathroom

A Marble-Inspired Ensuite Bathroom

How to Create a Timeless Trend-Proof Home

The 8 Best WHOLE HOME Warm Neutral Paint Colours

Chat soon,

For your own E-Design Decorating Consultation, check this out…

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2019, UPDATED FOR CONTENT AND PHOTOS IN 2023

The post Affordable Ways to Design With Marble (Look-alikes, Placement, & IDEAS) appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

The 8 Most Popular Warm-Toned Quartz & Quartzite Countertops

While white quartz countertops are still in style for many of today’s homeowners, a new wave of countertops is on the horizon.

That’s right, with paint trends leaning warmer, I’m also seeing a LOT of demand for countertops that lean to the WARM side of things vs. the white and gray trend of the last 5-10 years.

And if I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again – you do you. If you aren’t concerned with trends or resale, pick whatever floats yer lil boat. However, if you’re hankering for something WARMER and potentially even more FLEXIBLE than the top countertops of previous years, I’ve got some beauties for you.

A FEW IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS…

Before we get this party started, there are a few important things to remember…

• The countertops listed below are for inspirational purposes. Please remember to visit your local supplier to see what the slabs look like in person.
• Whereas quartz is more consistent, there can be QUITE a bit of variation in quartzite slabs as they’re a NATURAL product (and MUST be sealed/maintained).
• I love sharing approachable designs, so I only use photos from my E-Design clients and local projects.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN QUARTZ & QUARTZITE?

When looking for a new countertop, the choice is often between NATURAL and HUMAN-MADE. And this is the big difference between quartzite and quartz – quartzite is natural, whereas quartz is a MIX of natural (approx. 90-95%) and human-made (5-10%).

Natural products like quartzite (and marble/granite) require a degree of maintenance, whereas a quality quartz countertop requires none.

As it relates to looks, quartz offers a more predictable, more planned-out pattern. On the other hand, because quartzite is natural, every slab is unique, although most have similar colorways.

Remember, because quartzite is a natural product, there WILL be variation between slabs. Please, apply the tips and ideas below as general guidance to your chosen slab to see what works best!

1. TAJ MAHAL QUARTZITE

Taj Mahal is one of my FAVOURITE quartzite countertops. While it has a beautiful warm base, it’s not OVERLY beige or tan. It also has a moderate amount of veining – not too boring, but not overwhelming either.

As with ANY natural product, you will find variations between slabs. And while some Taj Mahal slabs can politely nod at a soft white cabinet color, many prefer a slightly darker, more off-white color partner.

As shown below, the Taj Mahal is also gorgeous with natural wood cabinets…

If you’re looking for a countertop that’s a bit friendlier towards white cabinets, keep on reading.

THE BEST PAINT COLOURS FOR TAJ MAHAL

• SOFT MUTED WARM WHITES, although they can be a bit more of a stretch depending on the depth of your slab
• SOME VERY MUTED TAN paint colors, depending on the slab
• SOME MUTED BEIGE paint colors, again, slab dependent (no strong orange-pink undertones)
• VERY MUTED CREAM/TAN hybrids
• DARKER GREIGE paint colors

2. BRITTANICA WARM by CAMBRIA

I love Brittanica Warm so much that I chose it for the kitchen countertop for our home!

In my search for the perfect quartz countertop, I wanted a flexible one – suiting today’s trends while flexing towards future trends.

How does Brittanica Warm do this?

Brittanica Warm has a soft, warm, off-white base, warm gray veining, and even a bit of taupe-beige mixed in. In short, a countertop like this is likely to withstand trends as it can flex towards the slightly warmer or stormier, cooler end as well.

See the WHOLE SPACE HERE

And while there is Brittanica Gold, which has MORE warmth in it, it’s not as popular with the masses due to its HEAVY, higher-contrast veining.

THE BEST PAINT COLOURS WITH BRITTANICA WARM

• SOFT SUBTLE warm whites
• WARM GRAY paint colors with a subtle green undertone
• DARKER GREIGE paint colors
• LIGHT GREIGE/TAUPE paint colors
• some OFF-WHITE BEIGE paint colors

3. SILESTONE CALACATTA GOLD

While Calacatta Gold parks itself in the ‘white quartz with gray veining’ category (i.e., intended to look like marble), because it has a gorgeous rusty orange veining it, it has a bit more flexibility than some of its slightly cooler cousins. This is true, ESPECIALLY as it relates to coordinating with some of the finishes from the early 2000s (Tuscan trend).

Along with that veining, you’ll find a warm gray with a violet undertone and a softer taupe with a violet-pink undertone. I know these undertones can sound scary, but they’re quite normal and beautiful for a countertop like this (a lot of people just see them as ‘gray’ veins, I’m just breaking it down a bit more for you).

THE BEST PAINT COLOURS WITH CALACATTA GOLD

• SOFT, NOT OVERLY WARM WHITES
• WARM GRAY paint colors with a violet undertone
• TAUPE PAINT COLOURS
• maybe the odd, subtle SHADE OF BEIGE

4. TAJ ROYALE by CAESARSTONE

Taj Royal is bound to be a popular quartz in the coming years. With a soft, muted, warm base and more subtle veining compared to Taj Mahal and Perla Venata, it offers an interesting but more CONSISTENT look.

Comparing Taj Royal to Taj Mahal, Taj Royal will be more stain resistant because it’s not a natural product – it’s quartz. Being quartzite and natural, Taj Mahal is more likely to stain. Also, because Taj Royal is a small percentage of human-made, the pattern is more consistent/reliable.

THE BEST PAINT COLOURS FOR TAJ ROYAL

• SOFT MUTED BEIGE paint colors, although it can humor some of the slightly more saturated ones
• DARKER GREIGE paint colors
• warm whites are often a bit too yellow to be partnered directly with Taj Royal

5. WHITE MACAUBUS QUARTZITE

Ooooo, this one is a stunner. White Macaubus is a quartzite countertop that bridges the warm and cool worlds, committing more to the ‘greige/taupe’ end of things.

You can find a considerable difference between slabs, with some leaning into a softer off-white backdrop like this one below, while others pick up on a soft white with gray/greige veining.

Island colour: Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze

THE BEST PAINT COLOURS FOR WHITE MACAUBUS

• SOFT & SUBTLE GREIGE paint colors in the lighter range (VERY minimal green undertone; borderline taupe)
• DARK GREIGE paint colors
• SOFT WHITES that aren’t overly yellow/creamy

6. PERLA VENATA QUARTZITE

Perla Venata has a relatively WIDE range of neutrals, ranging from soft off-white ivory to greige, tan, beige, and gray. Depending on the slab you choose, your countertop might favor beige (warmth) or greige/tan, or even pick up some ivory/cream hues.

If you’re worried that Taj Mahal or Taj Royal won’t humor your warm white cabinets, Perla Venata tends to have more flexibility towards the whiter, brighter end of things.

THE BEST PAINT COLOURS FOR PERLA VENATA

You’ll find that Perla Venata is LESS inclined to humor shades of gray and happier in the following worlds…

• WARM OFF-WHITES
• MUTED & MORE MODERN LOOKIN BEIGES & TANS (depending on your slab)
• CONSIDERABLY WARM SHADES OF GREIGE (very mild green undertone)
• SOME WARM WHITES

7. IRONSBRIDGE BY CAMBRIA

Ironsbridge is DEFINITELY one of my favorite warmer-toned quartz countertops. With a more subtle approach compared to the likes of Taj Mahal and Perla Venta, Ironsbridge is a great way to get visual interest without it dominating the room.

HOWEVER, while it has a subtle, soft warmth, it’s LESS inclined towards beige, tan, and cream and more friendly towards soft greige/taupe paint colors.

See the FULL HOME REMODEL & COLOUR DETAILS

THE BEST PAINT COLOURS FOR IRONSBRIDGE

Ironsbridge is a warm quartz countertop that’s not AS inclined towards beige (or cream). Here are some of its preferred colors…

• OFF-WHITES in the greige/taupe end of things
• SOME WARM WHITES, as long as they aren’t overly yellow/cream
• light depth GREIGE/TAUPE paint colors

Is Beige BACK? Is Beige TRENDY?

8. MONTEREY BY OMNIA

Monterey is another favorite of mine, which is why I chose it for our new lake home. I was looking for a versatile quartz with a soft white base and warm greige and beige veining. A countertop like this can nod politely at the warm gray end of things (especially with a green undertone) while humoring the coming warm trends.

Walls: Sherwin Williams Aesthetic White, Trim: Sherwin Williams Pure White

THE BEST PAINT COLOURS WITH MONTEREY

• WARM SOFT WHITES
• considerably MUTED BEIGE paint colors
• some EARTH-TONES such as gray-blue blends

A FEW MORE QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS WORTH CHECKING OUT

• DOLCE by VIATERA (Pinterest image HERE as the website photo is a hot mess)
• ETHEREAL GLOW by SILESTONE (Pinterest image HERE)
• CALACATTA MIRAGGIO GOLD by MSI (HERE)

PEOPLE ALSO ASK…

And, of course, there are questions I get asked all the time, some of which I can answer right here for you!

WHAT’S MORE EXPENSIVE, QUARTZ OR QUARTZITE?

While it can depend on the brand of quartz countertop you buy, with Cambria being one of the more expensive brands, quartzite is generally more expensive than quartz.

WHAT’S THE MOST POPULAR QUARTZITE COUNTERTOP?

Taj Mahal is known to be one of the top quartzite countertops due to its subtle warmth and versatility.

WHAT’S THE MOST POPULAR QUARTZ COUNTERTOP?

Calacatta Maximus is a HUGELY popular quartz countertop, intending to mimic marble with a white base and gray veining. Next year, ask this same question, and we could look at something warmer!

WHAT’S TRENDING IN QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS?

Quartz countertops that mimic the look of marble are still popular. These countertops primarily have a white background with gray veining.

In my Online Consulting work, I’m seeing a slow shift to some of these warmer countertops, as some homeowners are tiring of the white-on-white-on-white kitchen.

ARE GRAY QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS IN STYLE?

While gray quartz has been reasonably trendy in previous years, there’s a subtle shift into warmer palettes, including soft off-white quartz and warmer quartzite countertops like Taj Mahal.

READ MORE

Quartz vs. Granite – What’s The Best Countertop for YOUR Home?

The Best Bougie Laminate Countertops: Budget-Friendly & Beautiful! 

6 Questions to Ask Yourself BEFORE Painting Your Kitchen Cabinets White

How to Jazz Up a Subway Tile Backsplash

The 5 Types of White Paint Colours

How to Update Older Style Granite Countertops

NEED HELP?

CHECK OUT MY ONLINE PAINT COLOR CONSULTING! 

Chat soon,

The post The 8 Best Quartz Countertops for Upcoming (warmer) Trends appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Accessorizing bookshelves may seem intimidating if you don’t know where to start. However, I’ve found that most of my readers have everything they need to have a nicely accessorized bookshelf – they have the shelf, the books, and the knick-knacks; they just don’t know what the heck to do with it all!

That’s where I come in handy. Using some basic guidelines and tips, I’ll show you how easy it is to accessorize any bookshelf using what you have around your home already!

First, let’s check out a list of items to use when accessorizing a bookshelf…

1. BOOKCASE NEED: BOOKS

Novels and coffee table-style books all look good stacked vertically or horizontally. Stacking items is a great way to add variation and interest to a bookcase, especially if your display is HEAVY on the books!

2. BOOKCASE NEED: PICTURE FRAMES

Family, friends, hobbies, scenery – picture frames can hold anything you like but can’t be oversized (up to 8 x 10 is usually manageable on a bookshelf).

• Frames with mats tend to look tidier than frames without mats
• Be sure to establish some consistency between the look of your frames. They don’t need to be the SAME, but they do need to fall within your palette for colors and textures – unless you’re going for a super eclectic look, but even then, there should be a method to the madness
• You can also add flow by using only black and white or colour photos

3. BOOKCASE NEED: VASES

Vases come in HUNDREDS of shapes, sizes, and colors and are a great way to add color and interest to a bookshelf.

• If you want a more updated look, avoid crystal vases
• Vases are a great opportunity to add sheen, texture, and colour and, again, should SUIT each other, but don’t need to be matching

4. BOOKCASE NEED: DECORATIVE BOWLS & PLATES

Dig into your cupboards, dive into your china cabinets, and pull out any interesting wooden salad bowls, porcelain bowls, decorative dishes, etc. That piece that’s sat in the back of your cupboard for years could be fabulous when on display! Even decorative plates can be put on plate stands for display as a backdrop or key feature.

5. BOOKCASE NEEDS: KNICK KNACKS AND PADDY-WHACKS (but no dog bones)

The options are really endless in this category. Maybe it’s a larger item that takes up 1/3 of the shelf, or it could be a wee tiny thimble. Find items with texture, interest, shape, humor, or history. You might be surprised at the colour/theme connections that are made when different pieces (like a knick-knack and a vase) are placed together.

Notice how the built-in looks great, but a bare space in the middle of the bottom shelf needs some love.

5 Easy Ways to Turn Your House Into a Home

When you’re accessorizing a bookshelf, it’s best to start out with ‘more than you think you need’ rather than not enough, so don’t be afraid to harvest items from other rooms. If you have more than you need, you won’t need to think so hard when it comes time to improvise and get creative.

1. BOOKCASE DECORATING TIP: The 3/4 Rule

When accessorizing your bookshelf, you’ll want to break things into quarters…

1/4 BOOKS

Whether you’re into Nora Roberts, 50 Shades, photography, or scuba diving, these books should be books that you love, books that you feel best represent you, your downtime, your hobbies, and your passions (particularly if it’s 50 Shades…)

If you’re a book hoarder (like me), you might find that your bookcase is HEAVY on the books and light on the decor – and that’s TOTALLY okay, as long as you mix things up a bit here and there.

1/4 DECOR AND MISCELLANEOUS

This can include decor pieces that are strictly sentimental or a mix of store-bought and meaningful!

1/4 FRAMES OR ARTWORK

Whether it’s a beautiful canvas or framed photos of your kids, this is a great way to add a personal touch to a bookcase.

1/4 AIR SPACE

Breathe it in, baby! Air space? Yes, air space is important when arranging accessories so that each piece has room to breathe and the overall display doesn’t look ‘over-stuffed.’

You can mix things up per shelf or keep it simple by having only one type of thing on one shelf. No matter how you decide to do it, each shelf should have 1/4 air space showing, regardless of whether the rest is books, accessories, or both!

THE EXCEPTIONS

Of course, there are always exceptions. For example, if you have a bookcase in your kitchen or dining room and want to show off your dinnerware, you might not have it mingling with books and photographs. This dining room buffet/hutch below is a well-decorated display…

Notice the types of pieces used, as well as the use of SYMMETRY over BALANCE.

2. BOOKCASE DECORATING TIP – THE ANCHOR

It’s important to have some anchor pieces to stabilize your bookshelf. If you have too many small items, your bookshelf will look hodge-podge, cluttered and busy.

Examples of an anchor piece…

• vase with or without flowers/branches in it
• stack of books with a decorative item on top
• slightly larger scale, dominant decorative item
• leaning piece of artwork (which is really more of a foundation piece)
• large basket (like the two shown in the previous photo)
• framed photo/artwork

The anchor piece is OFTEN, the tallest item in a vignette, so you’ll want to place it slightly further back if possible. It can also be the LARGEST instead of the tallest.

And most importantly, EVERY SHELF NEEDS AN ANCHOR. The anchors don’t need to be equally as strong as each other or the SAME as each other, but it’s important that each shelf has an anchor to call its own, and the placement should STAGGER from shelf to shelf, so they don’t line up vertically.

Although it’s behind the fixture in this next photo, the anchor piece is the tall basket with greens.

And yes, the dining table could use a little love on the top, but you know what the COOL thing is? These are all REAL people’s homes – my E-Design clients! This means that while not everything is perfect and edited, you get an authentic, real-world take on decorating your home. Not everyone has a budget to blow at Home Sense; sometimes, we just use what we have on hand!

This bookcase is JAM-packed with emotional value – and it should; it’s my Mom’s!

In the above photo, notice how each SHELF has an anchor piece. Also, notice the groups of three and how they’re layered (i.e., stacks of books, lime green, framed pieces). To learn more, check out this blog post: How to Decorate Using the Rule of Three and Odd Numbers.

3. BOOKSHELF DECORATING TIP – STAGGER, STACK, & LAYER

Staggering, stacking, and layering pieces add flow, depth, and interest to your bookcase or display. The width of your shelf will dictate HOW much you can do. You might have a more spread-out display with an anchor piece on either end or a condensed display of ONLY an anchor piece!

• Stack 2-3 coffee table-style books horizontally and place a decorative item on top. You can also do this with novel-sized books as long as they aren’t pocketbook size and place a smaller-sized item on top
• Place a plate or a clock on a plate stand and place it near the back of the shelf as a backdrop to some of your smaller items (or as a backdrop to your horizontally stacked books from above)
• Place a large vase, accessory, or framed picture near the back of the shelf and place another item, like a small stack of books with a decorative item slightly in front and off-set from it

In this next example, notice two things: 1. the wood frame picture and wood bowl are diagonal to each other – not in-line, and 2. the vertically and horizontally stacked books are also diagonal to each other. The layout wouldn’t look as purposeful if they were underneath each other.  These little details can make a BIG DIFFERENCE!

4. BOOKCASE DECORATING TIP: ADD TEXTURE & VISUAL INTEREST

Whether you’re going for a matchy-matchy look or prefer a more eclectic arrangement, it’s important to have at least three pieces on your bookshelf that add texture and/or visual interest.

Just like with ‘foundation pieces,’ make sure to stagger your textured/interesting pieces so they don’t line up vertically from shelf to shelf.

Check out this next gorgeous display – the mirror is the foundation, the vase/branches and the stack of books with the brass decor on top are the anchors, and the rest are the filler pieces…

EXAMPLES OF TEXTURED DECORATING PIECES

• baskets
• woven bowls
• wood pieces with grain (or driftwood)
• floral (fake or real)
• books

EXAMPLES OF VISUAL INTEREST (ALSO INCLUDES THE ABOVE ITEMS)

• bright or striking colors
• white things (when placed with other non-white items)
• one item on one shelf – as long as the item and shelf are proportional to each other. You don’t want a piece too big for the shelf it’s on or too small!

READ MORE

How to Decorate Using The Rule of 3 and Odd Numbers

The Best WHOLE HOME Warm Neutral Paint Colors

6 Budget-Friendly Ideas to Update Your Home

How to Create a Decorative Vignette

4 Tips and Ideas to Accessorize a Mantel

Need help?

Check out my fun E-Design Books and Online Colour Consulting packages! 

 Chat soon,

Originally written in 2017, awesomely updated in 2019

The post How to Decorate (Accessorize) a Bookshelf: 4 Guidelines to Follow appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

LRV, undertones, exposures, personal tastes – there’s a lot to consider when choosing paint colours. And while this blog post touches briefly on these topics, and more, you’ll find tons of helpful links to full-bodied articles (you know the Ginger LOVES to talk).

So whether you’re just beginning your paint color journey or are neck-deep in samples, let’s get this color party STARTED!

BLOG POST #1   WHAT MATTERS THE MOST WHEN CHOOSING PAINT COLORS?

Aside from sampling properly and choosing the right finishes for your walls, there are a few important things to consider when choosing a paint color – your interior finishes. That’s right, if your paint colors don’t suit the room they’re in, your home won’t look its best.

Remember, if your interior finishes aren’t well-coordinated, there might not be ONE color that makes them all 100% happy – it’s often about finding the next best thing!

What Matters the Most When Choosing Paint Colors?

BLOG POST #2  THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CHOOSING PAINT COLORS WITH LRV

LRV refers to how light or dark a paint color is on a scale of 0-100. EVERY paint color has this magical number (you just need to find it). Once you learn the basics of LRV, your paint-pickin’ life will be SO MUCH EASIER!

It’s about a 10 min read and worth EVERY hot lil’ minute…

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CHOOSING PAINT COLORS WITH LRV

BLOG POST #3  HOW DOES NATURAL LIGHT (EXPOSURE) AFFECT PAINT COLORS?

Natural light can have LESS of an impact on interior walls compared to the exterior, but there are still some BIG considerations when it comes to which direction your room gets its natural light from.

The level of impact natural light has on your room can depend on…

• the size of your windows (a small window lets in less light OR you might have a BIG window that faces south and a SMALL window that faces north – the south-facing light has more impact)
• landscaping, i.e. a wall of trees filtering the natural light or tall shrubs outside the window
• a tall fence, overhang or otherwise blocking some of the natural light from coming through the window
• your region, i.e. some areas receive a lot of rain/clouds

To learn more about how exposures can affect paint colors, check out…

NORTH, EAST, SOUTH, WEST: WHICH PAINT COLOR IS THE BEST?

BLOG POST #4  THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PAINT COLORS & UNDERTONES

A paint color’s undertones are one of its most IMPORTANT details! What undertones does gray have? How about cream and beige? And did you know that even BLUE and GREEN have undertones?

If your paint samples aren’t quite connecting with your interior finishes, learning about undertones could be a great tool in your search for your room’s best paint color.

Kylie M’s Ultimate Guide to Paint Colors & Their Undertones

BLOG POST #5  HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT LIGHT BULBS FOR YOUR PAINT COLOR

Did you know that the KELVINS of your light bulb will affect how your paint color looks? If you aren’t loving how your samples look or are WONDERING why they don’t like like they should, it could be your lighting…

How to Choose the Right KELVINS For Your Paint Color

BLOG POST #6  SHOULD YOU USE PAINT SAMPLE POTS OR SAMPLIZE PEEL & STICK?

While there is a small space reserved for sample pots (which I’ll touch on shortly), SAMPLIZE PEEL & STICK are hands-down, the best way to sample paint colors.

• SAMPLIZE uses paint from the actual brands to make their samples.
• SAMPLIZE is less expensive and QUICKER than paint pots. No more running to the store to grab pots, sample boards, and brushes – Samplize delivers to your FRONT DOOR (usually by the next day).
• Peel & stick paint samples make it easy to see what a color will look like on your walls; flexing with rounded corners and adjusting to your wall’s texture – and you can move them around!

Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE

WHEN ARE SAMPLE POTS A GOOD IDEA?

Sometimes a paint color needs to be made a bit lighter or darker. In this case, I would get a QUART of paint made in the exact line of paint/finish that you plan on using and ask the employee to lighten/darken it as needed.

Want to learn more about lightening and darkening paint colors? Read this…

How to Perfect Your Paint Color in 3 Easy Steps (LIGHTEN & DARKEN)

SAMPLIZE PEEL & STICK: REVIEW

AND REMEMBER, I have an awesome SEARCH area on the right-hand side of my blog that can take you to ANY of the main keywords you punch in, i.e. gray/greige/cream/beige, as well as most of today’s most POPULAR paint colors (i.e. Revere Pewter, Repose Gray, etc…).

READ MORE

HOW TO SAMPLE PAINT COLORS THE RIGHT WAY

5 Reasons You Keep Choosing the WRONG Paint Color

HOW TO CHOOSE A PAINT COLOR WHEN YOU’RE ANXIOUS OR AN OVERTHINKER

THE BEST PAINT FINISHES FOR WALLS, CABINETS, TRIMS & MORE

NEED HELP?

CHECK OUT MY ONLINE PAINT COLOR CONSULTING!

Chat soon,

The post THE 5 BLOG POSTS YOU NEED TO READ BEFORE PICKING A PAINT COLOR appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

While I won’t say that gray is entirely outdated, it sure as heck isn’t today’s trendy choice for walls or cabinets. Sure, some darker grays are still kickin’ around, as are warmer versions, but gray is no longer the go-to color for homeowners and Designers.

The challenge is that the gray trend had people committing REALLY HARD to gray. This means that I often have to look outside the paint can when it comes time to warm up a gray room…

Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray

The following rooms are the biggest challenges regarding WARMTH and BALANCE…

ROOMS WHERE MORE THAN ONE MAIN SURFACE ARE GRAY

It’s one thing to have a gray countertop. Add in gray carpet, tile, or maybe even cabinets, and your chances of transitioning to something warmer aren’t gray-t.

NORTH-FACING ROOMS THAT ARE PAINTED GRAY

A room with northern exposure already has a cool gray natural light. Painting the walls a gray paint color can further enhance the gloomy look rather than counteracting and complementing it.

Benjamin Moore Wickham Gray

A room like this next one could easily fall flat and cool. However, the homeowner made some smart choices…

DARK ROOMS THAT ARE PAINTED GRAY

You’ll have many shady-looking areas in a room with low light. Shadows are gray – ’nuff said.

Benjamin Moore Dior Gray

ROOMS WITH NO NATURAL LIGHT

It’s the same problem as the above room, except we don’t have ANY natural light to play.

ROOMS WITH NO WARM COLORS OR FINISHES

This goes back to the first point about rooms with more than one gray surface. And it’s SO PREVALENT that, like Britney Spears, I’m hitting this baby one more time…

The challenge with the gray trend of 2015 (give or take five years) is that it was SO overdone. It’s one thing to have gray countertops, but top that off with gray carpet, backsplash tile, and paint colors, and your home is stuck in 2015 for eternity.

A room with too much gray doesn’t have any warmth to balance out the cool colors. Add the previously mentioned north-facing light to that, and you may as well invite Elsa to move in with you (for all you Frozen fans).

See this WHOLE BATHROOM REMODEL

Now, you might have your own special situation with gray. But it doesn’t matter what you’re dealing with; these five ideas will surely get your creative juices flowing…

1.  ADD WARMTH WITH TEXTURE

Texture is a fabulous way to add warmth to a cold-looking gray room. In this next dining room and bedroom, you’ll see a RANGE of textured finishes, adding interest and warmth to balance the cool gray paint on the walls…

Benjamin Moore Steel Wool

Benjamin Moore Dorian Gray

HOME DECOR IDEAS TO ADD TEXTURE TO YOUR COOL ROOM

• THROW BLANKET. A well-placed throw can be an invitation on a chair, couch, or end of the bed.

• BEDDING. Rather than choosing plain cotton, find something with a bit of texture; it doesn’t need to be patterned to add some visual warmth and interest!

• TOSS CUSHIONS — a mild obsession of mine, amongst many other things, including Cornuts, white wine, and Ryan Reynolds (in no particular order).

• HEADBOARD OR BED FRAME. An upholstered headboard instantly warms up a bedroom, regardless of the color/type of fabric.

• DRAPES. Draperies soften a room and warm up hard edges and are a great way to add texture or pattern (or both).

• LAMPSHADES. Avoid lampshades with a bit of sheen, and find some with a nice slub, linen, or lightly textured look.

• AREA RUG. As long as it’s a rug, it will add texture to a room, but don’t be afraid to ‘shag’ a little – particularly in the bedroom (wink wink)

• BRANCHES OR FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS. Curly twigs are softer looking than straight branches. Flowers are good as long as they look reasonably real and aren’t reminiscent of the local funeral parlor (NO 1990s FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS, LADIES!)

• WOVEN HOME DECOR SUCH AS BASKETS & TRAYS. Great for throws, books, plants, and more.

Texture can also come in the form of permanent finishes, not just home decor…

Believe it or not, this countertop is a laminate one by Formica– it’s not real marble!

Budget-Friendly Bathroom Update Ideas

The hexagon backsplash and countertop are both cool-toned. Still, the visual texture and variety of gray tones warm the room considerably – and a little greenery never hurts, either!

These next two photos show GREAT examples of adding balance to a gray-inspired space…

• brown leather bar stools add a grounded warmth
• the brown of the TV cabinet and sofa table add warmth and visually connects with the counter stools
• the wood pieces are considerably textured
• textured poufs under the sofa table
• the decor pieces have very visible texture
• a dog ALWAYS makes a home feel homier; if you asked this lil dog-lovin’ Ginger
• even the visual of unlit candles can soften a cold space

2.  WARM UP A GRAY ROOM WITH GOOD LIGHT BULBS

Lighting is often underrated when, in fact, it’s one of the most important parts of decorating a room.

Is Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter the Best Cabinet Color For Your Home?

CREATE A TRIANGLE OF LIGHT

You can create this decorative triangle using two table lamps and a floor lamp or three table lamps. When you draw a line between the three (not literally), it should create a triangle. This way, most of your room has light, and there’s a connection between the sources.

USE THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE OF BULB FOR YOUR ROOM (KELVINS)

This subject is NEAR and dear to my heart (but so are the previously mentioned fetishes). Choosing the right KELVINS to suit your paint color is a great way to control a room’s visual temperature and ambiance.

How KELVINS & Light Bulbs Affect Paint Colors

USE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF LIGHT FOR YOUR ROOM

You need to figure out how much wattage your room needs, especially if it has reduced natural lighting. A well-lit room can support a variety of colors and depths, regardless of whether the light is natural or artificial.

Learn about How Much Light Your Room Needs

3. ADD WARMTH TO A COOL GRAY ROOM WITH ACCENT COLORS

People often ask what COLORS warm up a cool gray room. Assuming your walls are already gray, adding accent colors is undoubtedly one of the BEST ways to add warmth to a cold, gray room.

COOL COLORS are blue, green, purple, and neutrals with these undertones.

WARM COLORS are yellow, orange, red, and neutrals with these undertones.

You can play around with ALL of these colors (maybe not all at once) to add warmth and interest to a cool gray room.

WARM ACCENT COLORS

Warm accent colors, such as red, orange, and yellow, help to offset the chill of gray, adding some balance to the visual temperature of the room.

In this next room, if you take that ONE ORANGE CUSHION away, the room’s vibe will be thrown off-balance…

COOL ACCENT COLORS

Accent colors don’t necessarily need to be WARM to add warmth to a room. While cool colors will always be cool, they can look a bit warmer when they have more depth and life to them (saturation).

Some of my favorite cool colors to accent a room are teal, navy blue, and dark green.

In this next foyer, the strong blue in the area rug and its texture add an inviting vibe to the space. The wood door is another important element in making this space look warmer and more balanced…

Are Gray Paint Colors Still Trendy on Walls, Cabinets & Exteriors?

TONE-ON-TONE ACCENT COLORS

You can also help gray look more inviting via a tone-on-tone palette, taking your gray into the medium and dark charcoal depths. Depth often leads to warmth, so don’t underestimate the value of darker neutrals; just don’t expect them to work as well as the warmer end of things!

Benjamin Moore Silver Chain

In the above photo, while the linens and rug certainly add texture and offer a tone-on-tone approach, the warmth of the wood furniture and golden hue in the bedding does the REAL heavy lifting.

BTW – ALL of the photos on this blog post are from my client’s homes, local and online! 

4.  WOOD TONES WARM UP A COLD GRAY ROOM

When adding balance to a cool-looking room, NOTHING does the job better than wood.

Why?

• most wood stains are in the red, orange, or yellow family (our previously discussed ‘warm accent colors)
• the right wood stain not only adds WARMTH to a space, but it also adds TEXTURE

It doesn’t need to be a MAJOR piece of wood, as shown with the above bathroom vanity; there are many ways to add wood to your space…

• small piece of furniture like a stool or table

• picture frames

• decorative bowl or vase

• cutting boards leaning against the backsplash

We saw this next bathroom previously, looking icy cool, and unwelcoming. But look at how it shifts when we add a bit of wood and textured, colorful artwork to the scene…

I mean, I wouldn’t say it wraps me up in a warm blanket of coziness, but these small touches definitely soften the space. Here are a few more things that could help…

• a textured white bath mat hanging over the side of the tub

• staining the wood stump a slightly warmer hue

• add some textured sheers to the window, softening the edges of the space and adding texture

• put a candle on the stump, as even the visual cue of a candle is inviting

• put a different frame around the art, as the silver is quite cold

5.  EXPAND YOUR COLOR PALETTE IN ADJOINING ROOMS

If you want to warm up the perception of a cool room, try painting an adjoining room a warm paint color, creating a balanced BACKDROP to your gray room.

In this next home, the cool of Gray Cashmere (eating nook) is balanced by the subtle warmth of Ballet White in the living area. And just LOOK at all of that gloooorious texture! COME TO MOMMA!

While Benjamin Moore Arctic Gray is a cool blue-green-gray blend, painting the dining room Silver Satin helps add a subtle warm balance to the overall space…

And it’s not just the dining room that warms up the above space; it’s the oak flooring, warm-toned furnishings, and the influx of warm natural light from the dining window!

READ MORE

Are Gray Paint Colors Still Trendy on Walls, Cabinets & Exteriors?

How to Redecorate Your Living Room Without Leaving Your Home

The 12 Best Whole Home Gray & Greige Paint Colors

Can I Paint My North-Facing Room Gray?

How to Accessorize a Mantel

NEED HELP?

Check out my E-design & Online Color Consulting packages!

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2016, COMPLETELY UPDATED IN 2023

The post HOW TO UPDATE A GRAY ROOM appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

If you’re asking the question, either the style of your fixtures or their metal finish is having you question whether they’re still trendy – in which case, they probably aren’t (a little tough love never hurts.)

And while there are many light fixtures out there that I loathe – some are glass, some are brass, and most date from the 1980s and ’90s, there’s one that makes me twitch; that rises above the rest in ugliness…

THE BOOBY LIGHT

You might think that I’m being dramatic, and I am, but I hate this old light fixture with a passion for THREE reasons…

1. It looks like a boob (normally, something like this would amuse me to no end…)

2. Many of these fixtures hold ONLY ONE 60w bulb (single bulb lights should ONLY be pendants or lamps). SHOW ME THE BULBS! 

3. It’s often put in areas that desperately need good lighting: entryways, hallways, walk-in closets, and bedrooms.

Have I convinced you yet? I hope so.

If this were an expensive fix, I’d understand why you might not rush out and change it. However, in the Wild World of Light Fixtures, these lights are the least expensive to update and add OODLES of visual value – literally, you’ll be able to see your room better!

1. FLUSHMOUNT FIXTURE WITH CLIPS

They might not be any screamin’ glory style-wise, but they’re low-key, affordable, and better than the boob.

You can get them from almost any lighting supplier, but here are a few to check out HERE

For larger rooms such as bedrooms, laundry rooms, and even living rooms, get the ones that hold three, 60w bulbs (HERE) – the more the merrier when it comes to light!

Again, these lights aren’t necessarily the EPITOME of style. But when it comes to function and not looking like a mammary, they’re a HUGE improvement without breaking the bank.

This next light takes the style up a bit…

2.  SEMI-FLUSH LIGHT FIXTURE UPDATE

The new trend in lighting for the AVERAGE home is a dressed-up version of the previous light. It costs a bit more, but they’re no comparison for decorative appeal.

These semi-flush ceiling lights tend to have white shades (sometimes clear, but don’t get ones with Edison bulbs; they’re dated). As for the metal, black, polished nickel, gold, or oil-rubbed bronze – whichever suits the hardware in the rest of your home. The sky’s the limit with this light fixture style, and it’s a great way to add personality and style to any room in your home!

And sure, it’s still boob-ish, but it’s a MODERN boob!

KYE FABRIC LIGHT

RALSTON 2 LIGHT FIXTURE

HUSON LIGHT FIXTURE

Many of these lights come in different finishes, including the finish shown. 

ELOIDA FLUSH MOUNT FIXTURE – also available in nickel.

6 Budget-Friendly Home Update Ideas

Wayfair puts these lights on sale ALL…THE…TIME. If it’s not on sale now, wait for it, or find a similar one that IS! 

I love this one if you’re more in the mood for something more DETAILED. It has a bit more traditional styling, but it could also work in a modern farmhouse or country-style home…

JOCELYN 3 LIGHT FIXTURE

Another thing I like about the above lighting fixture is that it would coordinate well with many chandeliers – ones with a similar bulb holder and general style- whereas some of the other shades on this page aren’t as flexible. The coordination of your light fixtures matters greatly if you have an open-concept home.

Here’s another beautiful one for all you brass lovers (below). Brass is currently trendy in the hardware world, and when it’s NOT trendy, it’s only a few coats of spray paint away from suiting the next trend!

PELAYO LIGHT FIXTURE

This next one is for you texture lovers. While a shade like this won’t give as bright light as white, the texture adds great visual interest…

NEKOOSA RATTAN LIGHT FIXTURE

If you put a fixture like the above in a room, have adequate floor or table lamps with white shades to add more ambient lighting, accent, or task lighting (as needed). This light ALONE cannot support a room’s lighting needs.

A FEW MORE CEILING LIGHT FUN FACTS

• Do you know HOW MUCH the Kelvins of your light bulbs affect your paint colors? This is a HUGE topic, so before buying new bulbs, have a read. I’ve had clients change their bulbs, resulting in a HUGE change in how their room looks (for the better.)
• Want to save money and modernize your old light fixture? Whether it’s a flush mount, chandelier, or pendant light, if your fixture’s style is modern (refer to previous images), why not do a little DIY? Grab a can of spray paint and give it a few coats (prep it first.) Spray paint comes in various metal finishes – black, of course, but you can also get nickel, chrome, and antique brass! I did this with my exterior lights and saved HUNDREDS of dollars!
• If you’re unsure what the current trend is in lighting fixtures, peruse Pinterest (i.e., if you’re thinking about dining room lights, type in ‘dining room’ in the SEARCH and see what pops up!) If you find something you like, go to that blog/website and see how long ago that blog post was published. You might need to find some new inspiration if it was over three years ago.
• Have you ever heard of CRI? I hadn’t either until I started researching light bulbs. This topic will change how you manage your home’s lighting, whether your bulbs are in recessed lights, hanging light fixtures, or table lamps!

READ MORE

How to Choose the Right Kelvins for Your Light Bulbs

6 Budget-Friendly Home Update Ideas

5 Ideas to Update Your Fireplace

4 Budget-Friendly Kitchen Update Ideas

NEED HELP?

Check out my E-BOOKS and Online Paint Colour Consulting!

Chat soon,

Originally written in 2015, awesomely updated in 2023

The post Affordable Lighting Fixture Update Ideas (Graphic Content…wink wink) appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

If you’re looking for a brief answer to whether gray is still popular for flooring, it’s a resounding NO. But let’s be honest; you don’t read my blog because you’re a fan of brevity.

When choosing the best color or finish for the hard surfaces in your home, you’d be smart to consider what’s TRENDY vs what’s TIMELESS. And while both can live in harmony, not ALL trends can withstand the test of time. Such is the case with gray flooring.

Which types of flooring am I referring to?

• gray-wash wood floor
• gray-wash LVT or laminate flooring
• gray carpet
• gray tile or vinyl

Of course, there are always exceptions, but assuming your home isn’t one of them, let’s take a closer look at what does/doesn’t work and why.

Notice how the subtle green undertone in the paint color sits a bit off with the violet hue in the flooring (LVT)

Let’s start with a little chat to ease any immediate concerns…

1. If you already have gray floors – it’s okay! This blog post isn’t about gray flooring being BAD (in fact, it can be quite pretty)! This post is about not choosing it NOW if you’re updating your home or building a new one (and you’ll find out why shortly).

2. Gray was trendy; it isn’t anymore. HOWEVER, trends only matter if a) you’re concerned about resale or b) you care about trends and like a home that looks updated. If you don’t care about these things, you can fill yer lil gray boots (but seeing as you’re reading this blog post, I’ll assume you DO care or are just here for my wit and charm – let’s assume the latter).

How to Create a Timeless Home: 4-PART SERIES

ARE GRAY-WASH WOOD OR WOOD-LOOK FLOORS STILL TRENDY?

Heck no. The gray trend started about eight-ten years ago, and while it’s had a GREAT run, its time is up. These days, instead of gray-wash floors, my clients are leaning into more natural woods in light to medium depths. And while I still see the odd whitewash come up (also a hard no from this Ginger), the more moderate woods are making a comeback.

These next photos are great examples of the type of flooring many of my clients choose (give or take a bit of depth/warmth/knots)…

Sherwin Williams Aloof Gray walls

Benjamin Moore White Dove & Revere Pewter doors

Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze island, Agreeable Gray cabinets

BTW, notice the wood ceiling and its white-wash – PINK UNDERTONES! 

Personally, I’m inclined to the medium depths when it comes to a good ‘happy medium’ between trends…

Why are so many people choosing wood floors like the above examples?

Because they’re more FLEXIBLE and suit a wide variety of styles, tastes and trends. While few things are TIMELESS, these stains will have more longevity than a gray or whitewash.

WHY I NEVER LOVED GRAY-WASH WOOD FLOORS IN THE FIRST PLACE

While you might LOOK at a gray-wash floor and see ‘gray’, every gray has an undertone – even your floor. And while it would be GREAT if there were a ton of exceptions, almost ALL gray-wash floors have a violet (or violet-pink) undertone.

While you might see a ‘gray floor’, I see a wood floor with VIOLET-PINK UNDERTONES.

That’s right, with VERY FEW EXCEPTIONS; if you choose a wood floor with a gray wash, it will have a violet-pink undertone.

And don’t get me wrong, as I MADLY love this next little bathroom. HOWEVER, the gray LVT flooring will be tricky to update once trends change.

WHY?

Those DARN violet undertones…

As shown in the above photo, I often have clients hire me because:

a) their NEWLY CHOSEN gray-wash (violet) wood flooring doesn’t work with their old paint color, OR

b) they’ve painted their walls a new color that doesn’t work with their existing gray-wash (violet) flooring, OR

c) they’ve bought a home with grayish floors and aren’t quite sure what to do.

In this next photo, you’ll see gray-wash wood flooring. Remember, this isn’t about it looking BAD; it doesn’t. In fact, it looks great with Benjamin Moore Classic Gray walls.

It’s just not very timeless. 

The above combo is great for a homeowner who loves gray…and violet. However, if I PERSONALLY were looking to buy this home…

I wouldn’t buy it BECAUSE of the gray-wash flooring.

Just remember, it’s not that violet isn’t pretty as an undertone; it can be. HOWEVER, it’s LIMITING should you or a new homeowner want to transition to a warmer look or different undertone. And guess where trends are shifting…that’s right, they’re shifting WARMER.

In this next space, Sherwin William’s Mindful Gray isn’t quite jiving with the flooring…

Thank you to my clients for their BEFORE photos, as they’re often great lessons in color! 

Why?

Mindful Gray has a slight tendency to grab a green undertone. This wink o’ green isn’t super friendly with the violet hues in the wood flooring (and I eagerly await the after photos!).

Is Gray OUT on Walls, Cabinets, & Exteriors?

Beige: Is it BACK? Is Beige…dare I say, TRENDY?

CAN YOU GRAY WASH WOOD FLOORS?

Oh, you CAN; the question is – SHOULD YOU? Again, the answer is no, unless you’re not worried about trends and keep your paint palette pretty darn simple.

ARE WHITEWASHED WOOD FLOORS TRENDY OR OUT OF STYLE?

While whitewashed wood floors are still being chosen by today’s homeowners, I almost ALWAYS steer my Color Consulting clients away from it.

Why?

Whereas gray wash flooring has a violet-pink undertone, whitewash wood floors lean HARDER into the pink. I’m YET to see a whitewashed wood floor that avoids this undertone.

Sherwin Williams High Reflective White

What SEEMS like ‘white and wood’ never is – everything is an undertone, and that undertone is PINK.

This next home is STUNNING. However, the current, slightly cream-inspired walls have a TOUCH too much yellow-orange for the pink-hued flooring…

Again, this isn’t about these homes not being BEAUTIFUL as they are. It’s about the longevity of a floor like this and how it translates into new trends (should one care)…

IS GRAY CARPET TRENDY OR OUT OF STYLE?

You get a bit more flexibility with gray carpet as long as…

• you don’t put it EVERYWHERE – it’s only in a few rooms (meaning it’s more affordable to change in the future IF NEEDED)
• you don’t partner it up with gray wash wood flooring

And this isn’t the ONLY difference when it comes to gray carpets. Whereas you’ll find mostly violet-pink hues in gray wood flooring, you’ll find one of TWO main undertones in gray carpet:

• GREEN
• VIOLET-PINK

Gray-green carpet is just about as flexible as gray-violet-pink – both have serious limitations. And don’t kill the messenger – I have gray (gray-green) carpet in my own home, and I love it, as does Doug…

The railings are painted Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze to pick up on the green hue in the carpet

HOWEVER, I’ve balanced it with a more moderate medium-toned wood floor and a few other flexible finishes so I’m not so limited in the long-term.

Why?

Because I care about resale AND trends and like to have a balance of both.

This next photo is of the staircase in our last home. Want to know one of the reasons we sold this house? Well, other than the fact that my soul slowly died every day I woke up in it, I couldn’t transition this house OUT of the gray-zone it was parked in – and this home (and homeowner) needed more warmth.

But that whole house debacle is a blog post unto itself. Moving along.

The problem with the gray trend is that, like my cooking, it was OVERDONE. Walk into any gray-inspired home built in the last ten years, and all you’ll see are gray floors, cabinets, walls and exteriors. The more gray you have, the harder it will be for you or a new homeowner to transition into the next style. The LESS gray you have…

a) the easier it will be to find a balance between trends

b) the less expensive it will be to change things around should a new trend or new homeowners come around

This next photo is the home of one of my FAVE long-time clients. And BLESS HER FREAKIN’ HEART, look at that balance…

• gray carpet on the stairs (a small area that’s more affordable to change in the future to accommodate a new style/different tastes)
• wood-look flooring in a moderate color/stain (flexible)
• both warm AND cool paint colors, showing the versatility of both flooring finishes

TAUPE OR GREIGE CARPET

While taupe and greige carpet are more flexible than gray (due to their warmth), they’re still pretty limiting based on their undertones.

Let’s look at my sister-in-law’s home, as she has a warm gray/taupe carpet (that I chose for her)…

The carpet we chose has a violet-pink undertone. Had we clad her ENTIRE HOME in this carpet, we’d be in for a world of hate should trends/tastes shift (I say WE like I live there, which I WOULD if I could; she’s a damn good cook).

But again, when it comes to gray (or taupe/greige), it’s all about BALANCE…

As shown in the above photo, the taupe carpet meets up with a natural-looking wood floor, giving WAY more flexibility for my sis-in-law or a future owner.

LONG STORY SHORT (as usual), gray, taupe or greige carpet is good as long as you don’t use it EVERYWHERE. Like Tim says to me regarding my wine consumption – moderation is good, sweetheart.

ARE GRAY TILES TRENDY OR OUT OF STYLE?

This is a tough one. There are so many tiles out there, some more flexible than others, that it’s hard to say definitively that gray is OUT. Here’s what I know is true…

• Ryan Reynolds is a total babe
• a gray tile that has other neutrals in it (i.e. white/beige/greige/taupe) will have a longer lifetime than a SOLID gray tile
• gray in marble can be pretty darn timeless, but that’s more about the product itself
• darker gray tiles can have more longevity than light gray ones (dark gray tiles can act more like an ‘accent’ color to a new palette)

In these next few bathrooms, you’ll see tiles that look like marble or ARE marble. Tile floors like these will be more timeless than tile floors that a light-toned, more solid gray, although even marble will have its limitations…

These next two bathrooms have dark tile floors. On its own, this dark gray can be more flexible than a light one, but in PARTNERSHIP with other gray finishes, the palette will be tougher to accommodate in future years should tastes/styles change…

This next tile floor has gray, white, soft white and even some taupe/beige in it. This floor tile will flex into several styles…

HOWEVER, when combined with the gray vanity, light gray quartz countertop and warm gray subway tile on the walls, it would be pretty hard to get this room OUT of the gray trend and into something different – TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING!

So there you have it. Long story short, gray floors can be GORGEOUS; they’re just limiting if you’re looking for a more timeless approach to your design.

READ MORE

Is Gray Still Trendy on Walls, Cabinets & Exteriors?

How to Create a Timeless Home: 4 PART Series

6 Budget-Friendly Home Update Ideas

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing White Paint Colors

NEED HELP?

CHECK OUT MY ONLINE PAINT COLOR CONSULTING PACKAGES

Chat soon,

The post Are Gray (Graywash) Floors Going out of Style? Are they Still TRENDY? appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Back in the day (you know, 30 years ago), laminate countertops were the most POPULAR choice for kitchen countertops; you’d be hard-pressed to see much else. And with the popularity of quartz and granite countertops in the last 20 years or so, laminate has got a reputation of being a ‘cheap’ alternative.

Don’t get me wrong; laminate countertops ARE affordable compared to quartz and granite – drastically. However, the word CHEAP offers a passive suggestion that a product is a low price AND low quality – which just isn’t the case.

Along with being an affordable alternative, laminate countertops are pretty darn hard. Of course, they aren’t as rock solid as quartz and granite, but this doesn’t make them a bad choice for the price point. In fact, laminate can be a wise investment for those on a budget.

Nowadays, laminate countertops ‘rock’ because not only are they super durable – they look like the real thing! Quartz, granite, marble, soapstone – you name it, laminate has come a long way in its effort to look like the real thing while staying SUPER budget-friendly!

And while there are a few big names in the laminate countertop world, it’s Formica, Wilsonart and Arborite that stand out as leaders in the style dept., as shown in these photos…

(click on the underlined name to view the product on their website, but please keep in mind that those site images aren’t often great examples)

REMEMBER, countertops usually come in a VARIETY of finishes (matte, etched, honed, etc…) – check out your OPTIONS before you order! 

SUMMARY OF THE MOST POPULAR LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS

Here’s a quick rundown of the best laminate countertops. Keep reading for photos and in-depth tips and ideas!

• FORMICA CARRARA BIANCO LAMINATE COUNTERTOP
• ARBORITE TYPHOON BORDEAUX LAMINATE COUNTERTOP
• FORMICA JET SEQUOIA LAMINATE COUNTERTOP
• FORMICA SOAPSTONE SEQUOIA
• FORMICA CALACATTA MARBLE LAMINATE COUNTERTOP

1. FORMICA CARRARA BIANCO LAMINATE COUNTERTOP

Carrara Bianco is my fave these days. Mimicking the LOOK of marble, Carrara Bianco laminate has a gorgeous white base with subtle gray veining. And remember, EVERY gray will have undertones, so choose yours wisely! These gray veins lean slightly into a violet undertone.

And seriously, its online image is terrible as it looks 1980s tobacco yellow – trust me, it’s not. Check it out below for a real-life view.

LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS THAT LOOK LIKE MARBLE

Wilsonart White Carrara (terrible online image)

Formica Neo Cloud

Wilsonart Calcutta Marble

2. ARBORITE TYPHOON BORDEAUX LAMINATE COUNTERTOP

Typhoon Bordeaux is a gorgeous product with its cool grayish-blue tones and rust-colored veining. Because it has a soft white base, it’s easy to coordinate with cabinets, flooring and backsplash. This countertop was designed to look like granite.

Sorry about the terrible photo; this was taken during my early days

In a bathroom, it’s a soft and subtle way to add some interest. In a kitchen, you won’t have to wipe the counters for days as these bad boys will hide all of your sins!

TYPHOON BORDEAUX LOOKS GOOD WITH

• white or slightly off-white cabinets
• painted warm gray cabinets
• natural cherry or espresso cabinets

COUNTERTOPS WITH SIMILAR INTENTIONS

Formica Crema Mascarello

Wilsonart Bianco Romano

Should you REALLY Paint Your Cabinets White? If so, Which White is Best?

3. FORMICA JET SEQUOIA LAMINATE COUNTERTOP

Jet Sequoia is a great way to get a high-end, high-gloss look without breaking the bank. This countertop is predominantly black, with a subtle grayish-white vein running through it.

Via Formica

THIS BLACK MARBLE-LOOK COUNTERTOP LOOKS GOOD WITH

• cherry cabinets
• white cabinets
• painted gray cabinets

COUNTERTOPS WITH SIMILAR INTENTIONS

Formica Basalt Slate

And while it’s a bit grayer, I also love Formica Paloma Dark Gray

3 Kitchen Countertop Update Ideas: How to Save Money

How to Pick the Best Paint Color for Your Kitchen Cabinets

4. FORMICA SOAPSTONE SEQUOIA LAMINATE COUNTERTOP

Soapstone Sequoia is a GORGEOUS warm greige-taupe countertop with cream veining. I used it in our last home when we updated our kitchen (on a budget) and LOVED it.

This countertop was designed to mimic soapstone, so it doesn’t have the high gloss finish that you see on some of the other popular countertops. We lived with it for two years before we moved, and I loved every minute of it – it hid so many crumbs I rarely had to wipe. It was FAR easier to keep looking nice than our quartz island countertop.

To see more, check out this blog post… Kitchen Makeover – Maple No More!

COUNTERTOPS WITH A SIMILAR LOOK

Wilsonart Potter’s Clay (looks WAY warmer online)

Formica Silver Quartzite (online image is GROSS, check it out in real-life)

5. FORMICA CALACATTA MARBLE LAMINATE COUNTERTOP

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE marble, but the maintenance part of it is a deal-breaker for me. And believe it or not, you can get the lovely look of marble without the hassle with Calacatta Marble by Formica!

Calacatta Marble is an imitation marble that almost puts the real thing to shame! And not only does it look great, but it’s also 10x easier to maintain!

To see more of this bathroom, check out this blog post… A Marble Inspired Ensuite Bathroom

CALACATTA MARBLE COUNTERTOP LOOKS GREAT WITH

• white cabinets
• painted gray cabinets
• cabinets that are navy blue or blue-green

Marble – Get the Look Without the High Price

So, you can spend all of your money if you want OR you can choose one of these uber-fab countertops to update your kitchen and add some serious visual value!

READ MORE

Countertop Update Ideas: High-End Ideas, Low-End Price

The Best Budget-Friendly Bathroom Sinks & Faucets

How to Update Your Wood Kitchen Cabinets – 4-PART SERIES

How to Create a Timeless Trend-Proof Home

The 5 Types of White Paint Colors

Top 4 Kitchen Update Ideas – Budget-Friendly

NEED HELP?

Check out my affordable E-Decorating and Color Consulting Services

Originally written in 2017, updated in 2022 for content and photos

The post The New Era of Laminate Countertops & Why They Rock: Review appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Can’t determine which paint color best suits your wood cabinets or trim? Maybe you want to highlight the beauty of your wood and make it come to life. On the other hand, maybe you want to CAMOUFLAGE your wood as you find its stain or grain too bossy. Whatever it is you’re looking for – I bet I’ve got it (except for sanity, that’s in short supply around here).

But before we get into the nitty-gritty, you need to decide whether you want to accent your wood or whether you want to blend or camouflage it…

• Warm or cool paint colors that are a few tones lighter or darker than the wood tone will accent it more than colors with the same depth. Why? Because not only will you have contrast in color temperature, but in color DEPTH!

• If you REALLY want to jazz things up, choose colors that don’t have TOO much gray in them, as these will offer more contrast and energy against your wood.

• Even if you THINK you want to blend in your wood cabinets, you might be surprised at how awesome a well-chosen cool color can look.

However, if you want to downplay a strong wood stain, you’ll want to avoid cool tones and lean into these colors below…

• Keeping the paint colour a similar depth to your wood is a great way to keep things seamless, but it can be a bit bland looking if you choose a warm or neutral color. It’s better to go a bit lighter (OR darker) than your wood’s depth or shift into a slightly cooler (but not COLD) shade. This will add a bit of thoughtful layering without overexposing your wood. (There are sooo many jokes I could make…)

• When it comes to cream, beige, and brown, find ones with similar undertones to the ones in your wood. This helps to keep things muted and subtle and prevents clashing undertones.

• Some cream, beige, and brown paint colors can pick up a wink of green, which can look a weeeee bit murky against many warmer woods (especially, red or pink tones commonly found in cherry).

YELLOW-TONED WOOD STAINS

Yellow-stained wood finishes were especially popular in the 90s and fell a bit out of favor in the early 2000s. As for undertones, yellow-toned woods are often committed to yellow but can slide slightly into yellow-orange or, more rarely, yellow-pink or yellow-green.

WHAT COLORS TONE DOWN YELLOW WOOD?

If you want to make your yellow stain look LESS yellow, you might need to lean into it a bit with the following colors…

• Cream paint colors with similar undertone profiles, i.e., if your wood is yellow-orange, you’ll pick a shade of cream that blends yellow-orange (like Benjamin Moore Navajo White.)

• Subtle tan paint colors. Whereas beiges lean more on orange, tan paint colors lean on a yellow undertone (yellow-orange or yellow-green). A color like Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan or Sherwin Williams Canvas Tan can look pretty.

• Some greiges look great with yellow stains. While there could be a minor degree of accenting, depending on the greige you choose, many greiges (with their green-yellow) undertone, are beautiful partners to yellow woods. Of the options listed, they’re the LEAST likely to blend out the wood tone, but also won’t OVERreact (depending on the greige).

The staircase in this next photo has a wood stain with yellow-orange undertones…

Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray

WHAT PAINT COLORS GO WITH OR ACCENT YELLOW WOODS?

These colors will make your wood POP a bit (pun intended…wink wink – I can’t help myself). This means that if you love your wood stain and want to contrast and accent it, these are the colors you’ll want to explore (you’ll see references to SPECIFIC colors shortly).

• Paint colors that are blue-green blends or blue-green-gray blends.

• Gray with blue-green undertones.

• Warm gray with a violet undertone (not AS great with yellow-green stains).

As shown in this next photo, colors that are cooler than your wood will help highlight it…

Benjamin Moore Light Pewter

ORANGE-TONED WOOD STAINS

Orange wood stains are super common as it relates to oak cabinets. However, you can find orange on almost ANY wood species, as the STAIN can have orange in it!

While yellow-toned woods are usually pretty darned yellow, orange-toned woods easily lean into yellow or red, but the dominant undertone is still orange.

WHAT COLORS TONE DOWN ORANGE WOOD STAINS?

If you’re considering using cool colors on your walls, think again. Sure, they can look GORGEOUS, but they will highlight the warmth and color of your wood finish, whether its cabinets, floors, trims, or furniture. To downplay an orange-inspired wood stain, check out…

• Muted beige blends, preferably in the off-white to light depths (specific colors are coming shortly).

• Warm gray with a violet undertone can be an interesting approach without hitting things too hard, although some accenting can occur.

• Some greige/taupe colors can be quite pretty for a moderate balanced approach. However, beige is your BEST bet.

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl

Sherwin Williams Colonnade Gray

WHAT COLORS GO WITH OR ACCENT ORANGE WOODS?

If you’re a bit of an exhibitionist and want to show off your wood, these colors will do the trick! You’ll see references to SPECIFIC colors shortly.

• Paint colors that are blue-green blends or blue-green-gray blends.

• Gray with blue-green undertones.

• Warm gray with a violet undertone can be particularly striking without being OVERLY contrasting.

RED, PINK, OR CHERRY WOOD STAINS

Red or cherry-toned woods are often the strongest of the bunch, adding depth and color to a room. Red-toned woods can also look slightly pinkish (pink being the light version of red) or can give off a subtle purple cast, depending on the combination of wood and stain choice.

While sometimes its hard to tell what undertone a wood stain has, there’s one hiding in there. This next wood finish has a slight pink undertone…

WHAT COLORS TONE DOWN RED OR PINK WOOD STAINS?

While leaning into red (pink) can be scary, it’s often the best way to mute the STRENGTH of your red-stained wood…

• Taupe paint colors share a similar undertone (taupe has a touch of pink in it).

• Warm gray with a violet undertone can be an interesting approach, especially, but not exclusively, one with a bit more depth.

• Some beige paint colors that lean into orange-pink, but it depends on the exact wood stain/strength.

The burnt-red hue of the walls in this next kitchen isn’t favoring the gorgeous orange-red cabinets; this is a case of WAY too much of a good thing…

WHAT COLORS GO WITH OR ACCENT RED OR PINK WOODS?

Red or poink-toned woods can be super fun to play with as they respond SO well to cool colors. So, if you’re a bit of an exhibitionist and want to show off your wood, these colors will do the trick! You’ll see references to SPECIFIC colors shortly.

• Paint colors that are blue-green blends or blue-green-gray blends will really light things up!

• Gray with blue-green undertones.

• Warm gray with a violet undertone can be a more modest approach (it’s one of my fave choices with red stains).

In this next photo, Sherwin Williams Jogging Path provides a nice subtle highlight to the red furniture stain and red oak flooring…

Now that you’ve done your homework, it’s time to look at REAL COLORS! Remember…

MANY wood finishes will pick up on more than one undertone.

This means that not ALL of these paint colors will look good with ALL wood stains, but they should get you pointed in the right direction!

1. BENJAMIN MOORE CLASSIC GRAY OC-23

For a soft, subtle look, Classic Gray is a nice, slightly warm gray. This gentle shade of off-white has vague violet-pink undertones that suit MANY wood finishes. Its passive approach won’t blend with your cabinets but also won’t highlight or accent them.

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Classic Gray

If Classic Gray is CLOSE, but not hitting the mark, Sherwin Williams Egret White has a similar approach, as does Benjamin Moore Silver Satin.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH CLASSIC GRAY

Classic Gray doesn’t work well with yellow-green stains, but tends to humor a range of yellow, orange, and red woods.

2. SHERWIN WILLIAMS REPOSE GRAY SW 7015

Repose Gray is a warm gray paint color that’s SUPER unpredictable. While it can pick up a slight touch of green, it can just as easily wink at violet or even a touch of blue! Make sure you sample Repose Gray CAREFULLY and read its FULL COLOR REVIEW.

The 10 Best Sherwin Williams Gray and Greige Paint Colors

Colors that are similar to Repose Gray, but with slightly different intentions include Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray and Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH REPOSE GRAY

It’s always hard to say with Repose Gray. With its slightly dirty undertones, Repose Gray is especially pretty with more ‘brown’ wood tones – ones without dominant yellow, orange, or red (pink) undertones. In other words, it can handle a ‘bit’ of undertone, as long as it’s not overpowering or overly noticeable.

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Repose Gray

3. SHERWIN WILLIAMS KILIM BEIGE SW 6106

Kilim Beige is a soft, subtle, and versatile shade of beige. While Kilim Beige has a main orange undertone, it can entertain various finishes and wood tones.

Sherwin Williams Kilim Beige is a soft complement to the wood floor, stairs, and railings

How to Mix and Match Wood Stains & Finishes

If Kilim Beige is closer, but you need a color with slightly different undertones or depth, check out similar colors like Sherwin Williams Natural Linen and Benjamin Moore Muslin.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH KILIM BEIGE

Kilim Beige doesn’t look as good with red-stained woods that lean red-violet or have a decent degree of yellow. However, it’s especially nice with orange woods or those with a mild red stain (like the stain on the stairs in the above photo).

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Kilim Beige

4. BENJAMIN MOORE ABALONE 2108-60

Abalone is a mix between gray, brown, and purple. The purple is subtle but adds a decent dose of color to get things out of the gray range. Abalone is also light enough to help offset a bit of the visual weight of darker cherry cabinets while still contrasting with white trim. I love how the purple taps into the wood tones without being ‘obvious’ about it (shown below).

The 9 Best Purple Paint Colors

While Abalone is perfect for many rooms, if you need a shade with a similar, but slightly different approach, check out Benjamin Moore Collingwood, Barren Plain, and Balboa Mist.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH ABALONE

Abalone is SO stinkin’ pretty with red hue woods, especially red-violet ones (above). However, it also suits some yellow woods, as long as they aren’t yellow-green and many orange stains.

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Abalone

5. BENJAMIN MOORE COLLINGWOOD OC 28

Collingwood is a beautiful warm gray with a subtle purple undertone. The undertone is quite passive, so this is a ‘gray-centric’ color. It can look wicked pretty with red or violet-toned wood finishes. Most grays can lean into ANY of the three cool gray undertones with the right lighting or exposure, but Collingwood usually holds pretty steady with its commitment to violet.

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Collingwood

While Collingwood is the perfect warm gray for many spaces, your particular wood might need something a bit different. Check out Benjamin Moore Nimbus, Balboa Mist, and Sherwin Williams Alpaca.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH COLLINGWOOD

Collingwood is flexible toward MOST wood tones, depending on your intentions. It can be a bit fussy with some yellow stains (yellow-green) as it prefers more legit yellow, orange, or pink undertones. My FAVE combo is Collingwood with red-stained woods.

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Collingwood

6. BENJAMIN MOORE GENTLE CREAM OC 96

Gentle Cream (also known as Barely Beige) is a great way to create a warm and inviting room without it looking overly golden. With its almost ‘butterscotch’ undertones, this color will sit pretty neutral with oak and other woods without camouflaging them or accenting them.

The 5 Best Cream Paint Colors

If you’d like to sample a color that’s similar to Gentle Cream, check out Benjamin Moore Navajo White and Sherwin Williams Casa Blanca.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH GENTLE CREAM

Gentle Cream can be a gorgeous partner to yellow and orange hue woods but can be fussy with red tones, depending on the exact blend.

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Gentle Cream

7. SHERWIN WILLIAMS CANVAS TAN SW 7531

Canvas Tan is a relatively neutral tan paint color that doesn’t fall too flat or greige toned for orange-toned woods NOR too golden warm, making it flexible for various wood stains, as shown below…

And while Canvas Tan is one of the more popular warm neutrals, check out Sherwin Williams Neutral Ground, Natural Tan, and Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan as well.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH CANVAS TAN

Canvas Tan is a bit fussier than some of the others and doesn’t love closer partnership with overly red stains (the dining set above is as close as you want to get). It’s also hit-and-miss with some orange-hued woods. It BEST suits yellow woods, especially ones that might lean a weee tiny wink into green.

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Canvas Tan

Samplize peel-and-stick paint samples are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER, and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots.

• Samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1-3 business days, depending on the location.

• They’re more affordable than the sample pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling.

Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE

8. BENJAMIN MOORE STONINGTON GRAY HC 170

Stonington Gray is a stormy gray with a soft blue-green undertone; it’s a beauty if you want a subtle accent to your wood tones.

What’s the Difference Between Stonington Gray and Gray Owl?

If you’re looking for a shade that’s similar to Stonington Gray, check out Sherwin Williams Tinsmith, Silverplate, and Big Chill.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH STONINGTON GRAY

There’s not much Stonington Gray can’t do if you want to highlight your wood (without going over the top). Stonington Gray is friendly to MOST wood stains, including oaks, maples, and cherry’s.

Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray

9. SHERWIN WILLIAMS SEA SALT SW 6204

Sea Salt is a lovely complement to most woods for a fun, fresh look. Sea Salt is a light-toned green blend with a gray-blue undertone to calm it down. Yes, it will slightly accent your wood stain, but it can look BEAUTIFUL! Read ALL about Sea Salt in its color review.

Sea Salt is a color unto itself, but for a similar (but tweaked) approach, check out Benjamin Moore Quiet Moments, Sherwin Williams Comfort Gray, and Silver Strand.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH SEA SALT

Because the goal is to highlight wood stains, Sea Salt is pretty flexible and you can expect almost any wood stain or species to pop against this cool-toned beauty.

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Sea Salt

10. SHERWIN WILLIAMS NATURAL LINEN 9109

With trends leaning warmer, Natural Linen is bound to be a popular shade. With a light-depth, more modern approach to beige, Natural Linen’s warm, flexible undertones are a soft and subtle partner to many types of wood stains, including most oaks.

Natural Linen is DARN pretty, but if you need a color with a bit more this or that, check out the similar approach of Sherwin Williams Rivers Edge, Kilim Beige, and Benjamin Moore Muslin.

WOOD STAINS THAT LOOK DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH NATURAL LINEN

Natural Linen is a versatile warm neutral that suits a wid range of wood stains, especially those with orange (orange-yellow, yellow-orange) undertones. It can be a bit fussy with overly red wood stains and cherry woods.

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Natural Linen

11. BENJAMIN MOORE JOCKEY HOLLOW GRAY HC 108

Jockey Hollow Gray is a gorgeous shade of greige with a decent green undertone. While it WILL accent the warmth of your cabinets, the neutral base keeps things a bit more in check.

WOOD STAINS THAT LOOK DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH JOCKEY HOLLOW GRAY

Jockey Hollow Gray is a heavier approach than the others and is a beautiful complement to yellow and orange stains. I’m not as BIG of a fan of red hues, but that’s a personal opinion, as some will love it.

12. SHERWIN WILLIAMS SILVERPLATE SW 7649

Silverplate is a slightly stormy gray with a vague blue (blue-green) undertone. While it CAN look cool, Silverplate isn’t traditionally cold. On the other hand, it’s not very warm but has a stormy softness.

The subtle undertones of Silverplate will slightly enhance any wood tone, but it’s a great way to create a more modern look with your yellow-toned wood (shown below).

And don’t forget about LRV when choosing a paint color! How to Use LRV to Pick a Paint Color

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH SILVERPLATE

Silverplate isn’t BAD with many wood stains and humors most. As shown above, I love how Silverplate plays with a yellow-orange stain. And while it certainly suits red well enough, it’s not my PERSONAL fave.

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Silverplate

13. BENJAMIN MOORE GRAY CASHMERE 2138-60

Gray Cashmere is a soft gray with a strong blue-green undertone, making it almost whimsical with its fresh feeling (it usually favors blue over green). Gray Cashmere is similar to Sherwin Williams Sea Salt, but has more gray in it, leaving a whisper of color without being too powerful. This color will accent wood tones, not soften them.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH GRAY CASHMERE

Gray Cashmere isn’t SUPER fussy about its wood tones, although I’m not a huge fan of it with DARK espresso finishes. Gray Cashmere is especially pretty with most yellow hue woods, offering a soft contrast.

14. SHERWIN WILLIAMS HERON PLUME SW 6070

Heron Plume is an interesting off-white – stuck between gray and taupe. Because of this, it can shift a lot depending on the exposure of your room. While its undertones aren’t overpowering, they can flash through depending on the finishes you partner it with.

WOOD STAINS THAT LOOK DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH HERON PLUME

Heron Plume can be STUNNING with wood stains that are red-inspired, as it’s subtle violet undertones suit many red hues. It’s also pretty with orange-toned woods but can be a bit fussy with some yellow woods.

15. BENJAMIN MOORE EDGECOMB GRAY HC 173

Edgecomb Gray is one of the most popular colors, sitting nicely between gray and beige, with no obvious preference for either. Its undertones are also passive, catering to neither greige (green) nor taupe (violet-pink). Edgecomb Gray won’t really highlight nor blend in with most woods unless you have DARK wood, which would be highlighted via the degree of contrast, not the color. 

V1 Real Estate Photography with Kylie M.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH EDGECOMB GRAY

Edgecomb Gray can handle wood stains with muted OR strong undertones, making it super versatile. However, be careful when partnering it with gray-wash woods, which can have a bit too much violet undertone for Edgecomb Gray.

Remember to pay attention to your room’s exposure too!

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray

16. SHERWIN WILLIAMS COLONNADE GRAY SW 7641

Colonnade Gray is a soft, light-medium warm gray, borderline greige. Because of this, it favors a very slight green undertone but can easily flash into the others depending on your exposure/interior finishes.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH COLONNADE GRAY

Colonnade Gray looks gorgeous with many yellow and orange-hue woods and more muted brown stains. It can also work with red ones but can enhance the red, so watch for that.

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Colonnade Gray

17. BENJAMIN MOORE DRY SAGE 2142-40

If you want a dynamic combination between your wood cabinets, trim, and walls, look NO FURTHER than green. In particular, Dry Sage is a beautiful partner if you want your beautiful wood to pop a little!

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH GREEN

Green is pretty easy to please when it comes to its wood partners, enjoying yellow, orange, and even some pink stain colors! Just remember, your wood will POP in comparison!

I rely 100% on photos from my Online Color Consulting clients – thank you to everyone for sending them in! 

18. BENJAMIN MOORE FERNWOOD GREEN 2145-40

Again, it can be hard to go wrong with green. Fernwood Green is a warm green paint color with JUST enough of a neutral base to calm it down while leaving a GORGEOUS green hue on the walls!

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH WARM SHADES OF GREEN

As shown in the photo above, woods with a red or pink undertone can look stunning with green paint colors. However, I also love how yellow-orange-toned woods look equally as much.

19. BENJAMIN MOORE IMPERIAL GRAY 1571

Imperial Gray is a gorgeous blend of blue-green and gray, creating a soothing, calming combination with many wood tones.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T GO WITH IMPERIAL GRAY & OTHER BLUE-GREEN BLENDS

In the above photo, you can see how beautiful the blue-green paint color looks with the red stain on the dresser. However, you’ll find that these types of colors can be equally as stunning with yellow and orange-stained woods.

Here’s Imperial Gray in the same room, just at a different angle, shown with more orange-stained wood…

20. BENJAMIN MOORE COVENTRY GRAY HC 169

Coventry Gray is a stormy, subtle shade of gray with a whisper of green-blue undertones. This cool approach contrasts so nicely with warm-toned woods.

FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray

WHAT WOOD STAINS DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH GRAYS LIKE COVENTRY GRAY?

While woods with a strong red undertone look okay with a color like Coventry Gray, it really hits its stride with orange-stained woods or those with a muted yellow.

Get your SAMPLIZE PEEL & STICK samples of Kylie M’s recommended colors from this post!

Want more?

5 Ideas to Update Oak Cabinets – (PART 1 in series)

MORE Ideas to Update Your Wood Cabinets – WITHOUT a Drop of Paint! (PART 2)

The Best Hardware to Update Wood Cabinets (PART 3)

CONFUSED? NEED HELP?

Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting & E-Design Services!

READ MORE

How to Coordinate Different Wood Stains and Finishes

Should You Paint Your Cabinets – A Questionnaire

The 8 Best Whole Home Warm Neutral Paint Colours

WRITTEN IN 2020, UPDATED IN 2022 JUST FOR YOU!

The post The 20 Best Paint Colors To Go With Oak (or Wood): Trim, Floor, Cabinets & More (PART 4) appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

When it comes to updates that add value to your home, granite and quartz countertops are the top contenders. And while there are some FABULOUS high-end laminate countertops, nothing beats the quality and popularity of granite and quartz.

Of course, there are other countertop options, such as soapstone, marble and concrete, but these aren’t on today’s menu.

Why?

Because HANDS-DOWN, granite and quartz countertops are the most popular choices for style and DURABILITY. But when it comes to these two, it isn’t always about STYLE; there are a few other important considerations. This is why today, you’re getting the answers to the most COMMON questions related to these two competing surfaces.

Countertop – MSI Calacatta Botanica / Cabinet colour – Benjamin Moore White Dove

But first, for those of you who are NEW to my blog – welcome to the club, a club where we talk about paint colours, decorating, wine and Ryan Reynolds ALL DAY LONG!

Seriously though, let me say that while paint colours are my JAM, I’ve spent two decades in the decorating and design industry, helping over 7500 homeowners create their dream homes – INCLUDING paint colours, countertops, home update ideas and MORE! I’m an industrious lil Ginger…

Now, let’s get this party started…

1. WHICH COUNTERTOP IS THE MOST HEAT-RESISTANT, GRANITE OR QUARTZ?

Granite is DEFINITELY the most heat-resistant, but quartz has a ‘reasonable’ heat resistance.

GRANITE & HEAT-RESISTANCE

Granite countertops are REMARKABLY resistant to heat. However, place the same hot pot on the same spot time and time again, and you risk losing a bit of colour in your granite countertop. But aside from this, granite countertops are GENERALLY heat-proof. Still worried? Use a trivet.

Black granite countertops in a budget-friendly update with Sherwin Williams Alabaster cabinets

QUARTZ & HEAT-RESISTANCE

While quartz countertop does a GREAT job of withstanding heat (not including the less expensive/lower quality brands), even high-quality brands can be damaged by excess heat.

Remember, these countertops are VERY hardy and heat-resistant; they’re just not fool-proof.

That said, I’m a HUGE fool in the kitchen and am hard-pressed even to wear an apron or bib, never mind putting a trivet under my hot pot of Kraft Dinner. And guess what? So far, so good, and that’s in 10 years of homes with quality quartz countertops.

Cambria Statuario Nuvo with Revere Pewter cabinets

See the above Tudor Kitchen Remodel HERE

I summarise that while quartz isn’t as heat resistant as granite, it’s better than laminate, butcher block or marble and is pretty darn hardy overall – I would NEVER hesitate to put it in my own home.

Is Gray Still Trendy on Cabinets, Walls & Exteriors?

2. DO GRANITE & QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS NEED TO BE SEALED?

Granite? HECK YES. Quartz? NEVER!

GRANITE & SEALANT

Because granite is a natural surface (like marble or soapstone), it will absorb liquids. Keep in mind; it’s harder than marble and soapstone and FAR more resistant to staining, etching and loss of sheen. HOWEVER, suppose you don’t seal and maintain your granite (depending on how often your particular sealant needs reapplied). In this case, you risk not only staining and discolouration but MOULD and bacteria build-up.

Granite countertop similar to Sienna Beige with Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze on the island

I was talking to my fave installer, and he told me a story of going to a home to install new countertops. The OLD granite countertops were unsealed (or maybe were originally and were never done again). Underneath the countertop in the lazy Susan corner, what was festering there? MOULD. Wooooof. Please, seal your granite.

6 Questions to Ask Yourself BEFORE You Paint Your Cabinets WHITE

QUARTZ & SEALANT

While quartz countertops are approx 90-95% natural, the 5-10% *resin/filler in them makes them pretty darn bullet-proof as it relates to staining (they’re also EXCEPTIONALLY hard to scratch – trust me, cutting boards are against my religion and my countertops are in perfect condition).

*They can also have some pigments added for design/colour.

But are the stain-PROOF? No, nothing is 100% safe. This being said, the high-end quartz brands stand behind their products and most times, can pull stains out of their product IF something manages to get through.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S AN EXCEPTION! 

With the price point of quartz and granite, it can be tempting to save money – don’t. Cheap quartz countertops are often made with a lower quality resin, making them less resistant to heat, staining and SCRATCHING – ask my neighbour who has a lovely red wine stain on her newer, inexpensive quartz countertop (white wine’s better anyway). Again, nothing is totally bullet-proof, but the cheaper the quartz is, the more risk you’re assuming.

Although, if you’re looking at one of these products for your bathroom, a more affordable lower-end quartz works if you don’t have to worry about heat tools or use abrasive cleaners. We have older granite countertops in our ensuite, and they have absorbed a few hair products and whatnot, leaving a few spots (we’re replacing them soon – don’t tell Tim).

MSI White Macaubus with Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray cabinets, tile backsplash TBA

3. ARE GRANITE & QUARTZ NATURAL PRODUCTS?

Granite? YES. Quartz? Almost.

GRANITE IS 100% NATURAL

While granite has to go through a manufacturing process, it’s 100% natural, which is why you’ll see WILD and unpredictable variations in patterns.

The Best Wall Colours For Cream Cabinets & Trim

QUARTZ IS 90-95% NATURAL

Whereas granite countertops are just like me – alllll natural baby, quartz countertops are like the ‘botox’ versions of the countertop world.

What does this mean?

They’ve been injected with resins and/or fillers to improve their look and performance.

What are these improvements?

1. These resins help to prevent bacteria and mold from forming as the countertops don’t ABSORB anything (kind of like when Tim talks to me). This is also why granite DOES get sealed, as it doesn’t have these resins.

2. The use of resins in the creation of quartz countertops allows for altered colors and patterns.

Cambria Summerhill quartz with Sherwin Williams Colonnade Gray paint colour

However, it’s this same resin that can cause discoloration when exposed to HIGH heat, which is why using a trivet is important.

Cambria Brittanica Warm – see more of this home HERE

By the way, if you live on Vancouver Island, it’s HARD to beat the service and quality at VI Granite. They’re the only ones I trust with my countertops!

4. WHICH IS HARDER- GRANITE OR QUARTZ?

Both countertops are pretty darn hard based on the MOH’S scale (which measures the hardness of minerals). However, quartz is a weee tiny bit harder, coming in with a score of 7 to granite’s 6 (but this can vary slightly). At the end of the day, they’re pretty comparable.

And personally, unless I’m dealing with a LEGIT soft product like soapstone or butcher block, hardness isn’t a huge consideration for me when choosing between quartz or granite. As for muscles, that’s a whole ‘nother story.

Viatara Rococo with Sherwin Williams High Reflective White

Caesarstone Bianco Drift with Benjamin Moore Metropolis vanity

The 6 Best Paint Colours for Kitchen Islands & Bathroom Vanities

Want to learn more? READ THIS from MARBLE.COM Is Quartz Harder Than Granite

5. WHICH COUNTERTOP IS THE MOST SCRATCH-RESISTANT – GRANITE OR QUARTZ?

This is where the HARDNESS of a surface comes in handy, especially if you’re considering a countertop OTHER than quartz or granite. The higher its rating on the MOH’S scale, the more resistant a surface will be to scratching and etching.

COUNTERTOPS – SOFTEST TO HARDEST

While there’s a bit of variation depending on the source, this is a good GENERAL guide for hardness (I’m doing my best not to include any innuendos…it’s hard…that’s what she said).

BTW, butcher block/wood and laminate countertops can’t be rated as they don’t fall under this scale/system. If I put myself on the same scale, I’d say I’m a solid 8 – wink wink.

WHICH IS CHEAPER – QUARTZ OR GRANITE?

Regarding affordability, the word ‘cheap’ can passively suggest a low price AND low quality – such is the case with cheap quartz (which WILL stain/etch). Aside from the low-quality brands, granite, and quartz are often comparable in price, depending on which brand/line you invest in.

SHOULD I REPLACE MY GRANITE WITH QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS?

If you have one of the more traditional granite countertops from the early 2000s, there’s a good chance you’ll add value to your home by investing in a more modern-looking quartz countertop. While a lot is based on personal perception and target market, more people prefer quartz to granite.

The above granite is DEFINITELY one of the more popular ones and will hold its value reasonably well (with Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray on the cabinets).

Kylie, what do YOU think is better – quartz or granite?

THESE DAYS, whether you want to hear it or not, quartz is the more MODERN choice. With granite countertops, you’ll never know whether they were installed in the early 2000s or yesterday #truthbomb.

Why?

Because granite is 100% natural, there are rarely any great BREAKTHROUGHS in pattern or color combos – if Mother Nature doesn’t make it, you ain’t gettin’ it.

Many of the granites installed today are the SAME ONES that were used 20-30 years ago.

The above granite countertop is one of the more MODERN looking versions – Bianco Antico

A well-chosen black granite can be a timeless, more flexible choice than many other granite countertops

6 Budget-Friendly Kitchen Update Ideas

How to Update Your Older Granite Countertops

This doesn’t make granite a BAD CHOICE, but it isn’t always the most MODERN choice.

Because quartz (in a small part) is man-made, we can make new varieties – ones that shift with the trends. This flexibility allows us to choose a WIDE variety of colors, patterns, veining, flecks, and finishes.

Cambria Brittanica Warm with Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter / AMES tile backsplash

Viatara Minuet with Sherwin Williams Pure White

And this isn’t to say granite isn’t gorgeous; IT IS – some of my favorite countertops are granite (I LOOOVE the versatility of black granite). However, if you’re looking to update your home, especially with the potential of resale, quartz is HANDS-DOWN the most popular choice.

SUMMARY OF THE PROS & CONS OF QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS

• PRO: reasonably heat-resistant, but a trivet is recommended
• PRO: low maintenance – no sealant required
• PRO: super hard, making it very challenging to crack/scratch
• PRO: more popular/trendy than granite in most target markets
• PRO: very stain-resistant
• PRO: consistent appearance
• CONS: not totally heat-resistant
• CONS: seams can be noticeable depending on the pattern chosen

SUMMARY OF THE PROS & CONS OF GRANITE COUNTERTOPS

• PRO: super heat-resistant
• PRO: very hard and chip/scratch-resistant
• CON: must be sealed regularly to prevent staining – even then, wipe up spills quickly
• CON: unpredictable appearance (some would see this as a PRO)
• CONS: seams can be noticeable depending on the pattern chosen

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

The 8 Best Quartz Countertops for Coming Trends

How to Update Your Older Granite Countertops

The New Era of Laminate Countertops & Why They Rock!

3 Ways to Save Money On Your Laminate Countertop

Should You Paint Your Wood Cabinets or Keep Them Stained? A QUESTIONNAIRE

4 Subway Tile Backsplash Ideas

NEED HELP?

Check out my Online Consulting Packages – talk to the EXPERT! 

Chat soon,

The post Quartz vs. Granite Countertops: Which One is Better For YOUR Home? appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Do you love your wood cabinets? Or maybe you don’t but you have to live with them regardless of whether it’s a love or hate relationship. Either way, I’ve got you covered with the BEST ideas to update your wood kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, or built-ins.

However, writing it all in one blog post would be exhausting for both of us (#insertwinehere). Instead, you have FOUR articles to peruse that are full of budget-friendly and actionable ideas to update your cabinets.

What will you be reading about? 

• the best WALL paint colors to complement wood cabinets and trim
• how to update wood cabinets by PAINTING them
• the best HARDWARE to update wood cabinets
• update the surrounding hard finishes in your kitchen, including COUNTERTOPS & BACKSPLASHES
• HOME DECOR inspiration for a kitchen with wood cabinets

AND MORE!

So, without further ado…

PART 1 – 5 IDEAS TO UPDATE OAK OR WOOD CABINETS

Whether you want to paint your cabinets or refresh the room around them, this blog post is FULL of fun ideas!

5 Ideas to Update Wood Cabinets – PART 1

PART 2 – 5 IDEAS TO UPDATE WOOD CABINETS WITHOUT A DROP OF PAINT!

This one is for all you hardwood lovers out there – myself included!

Ideas to Update Wood Cabinets WITHOUT a Drop of Paint – PART 2

PART 3 – THE BEST HARDWARE TO UPDATE OAK OR WOOD CABINETS

When it comes to a well-decorated home, it’s alllll in the details…

The Best Hardware to Update Wood Cabinets – PART 3

PART 4 – THE 16 BEST PAINT COLORS TO UPDATE WOOD CABINETS, FLOORING, OR TRIM

I’ve saved the BEST ’til last! Find out which paint colors will update the look of your wood cabinets, flooring, furniture, or trim with these 16 GORGEOUS shades!

The 16 Best Paint Colours to Coordinate With Wood Cabinets, Trim & Flooring

READ MORE

The Ultimate Guide to White Paint Colours

5 Easy & Affordable Ideas to Update Your Fireplace

The Best WHOLE HOME Gray & Greige Paint Colours

NEED HELP?

Check out my Online Paint Colour Consulting packages! 

Chat soon,

The post HOW TO UPDATE WOOD OR OAK CABINETS: 4-PART SERIES appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Stainless steel is the most popular finish for kitchen appliances with black (including black stainless steel) coming in second place. As for white, well, it squeaks in right before almond and avocado – YES I SAID IT, I DID!

And BECAUSE of this, and because I ONLY use photos from my Color Consulting clients (I don’t ‘borrow’ other people’s work), I have MINIMAL PHOTOS of white appliances. However, I have HUGELY HELPFUL tips and guidance to get you on the right track. 

In this blog post, you’ll learn WHY these white appliances work in this kitchen…

Thank you to my clients for sending your photos in – even when they’re in mid-progress, they’re helpful! 

More IMPORTANTLY, you’ll learn what DOESN’T work when decorating and choosing paint colors when you have white appliances.

While white might not be the top contender in the appliance world, personally, I like white appliances (especially the newer modern style). These light, bright appliances offer a (potentially) low contrast, fresh vibe to today’s kitchens. However, the CHALLENGE is that white appliances can be difficult to coordinate.

WHY?

White appliances are generally a COLD, crisp white. However, with white cabinets being trendy, and the most POPULAR white cabinet colors being warm whites, you’re in for a hot mess if you start mixing and matching. Warm whites are popular because they suit more interior finishes (i.e. countertops) than cool or bright whites.

The most IMPORTANT thing you will read in this entire blog post is this…

You can’t have white appliances with warm white, off-white or cream-colored cabinets.

Actually, you CAN have the above, just don’t expect it to flow (with one exception).

WHY?

The cool white of your appliances will do one of the following to your warm white cabinets…

1. make them look more YELLOW in comparison to the cool white of your appliances
2. will make them look DINGY in comparison to your appliance’s cool white hue

HOWEVER, here’s the exception…

GE CAFE WHITE APPLIANCES & CABINET COLORS

GE’s cafe white appliances have a WAY different approach than the standard white appliances from the previous three decades.

Image from the GE website – GE Cafe White Appliances

Not only do these units have a more streamlined, modern look, but you can also customize the hardware on them. Why is this so handy? Choosing the brushed bronze hardware is a great way to add some WARMTH to your palette, making BRIGHTER warm white cabinets look more at home.

Just keep in mind, WHEN trends shift away from brushed bronze and gold/brass-inspired hardware, you MAY choose to update your appliance hardware to a different metal finish – this is where warm white cabinets could get a little left behind. Warm-toned metal finishes help to TIE-IN warm white cabinets.

Color & Chic offers a great view AND review on these appliances. Hoang Kim chose the BEST white for her kitchen and its finishes – Sherwin Williams Pure White. Why? Pure White has a more moderate warmth than the ever-popular Benjamin Moore White Dove and Simply White. This muted warmth offers a lower-contrast shift between appliance and cabinet.

In the above photo, while it shows stainless steel, you can see how white appliances could work with the ever-lovely Sherwin Williams Pure White.

Again, I don’t ‘borrow’ photos from other creators’ sites. When I DO link to them (which I rarely do), it’s to help them with their growth by getting your eyes on their pages!

THE BEST WARM WHITE CABINET COLORS WITH THE GE CAFE SERIES

• Sherwin Williams Pure White
• Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace
• Benjamin Moore White Dove – expect them to REALLY look warmer than your appliances.

Now that we’ve covered that, let’s move back to the more STANDARD line-up of white appliances.

ARE WHITE APPLIANCES STILL TRENDY IN 2023?

OTHER than the GE Cafe Series, no white appliances are not popular and usually* don’t look updated (and I don’t see this changing drastically in the near or far future).

*of course, there are ALWAYS exceptions, but they’re fewer and farther between when it comes to this appliance finish. 

CAN I MIX WHITE APPLIANCES WITH STAINLESS STEEL OR BLACK?

Mixing appliance finishes isn’t recommended. HOWEVER, based on budget, it can be a great short-term solution if you’re looking to transition out of white. In this case, I recommend mixing white with stainless steel – NOT black.

WHICH CABINET PAINT COLORS GO WITH WHITE APPLIANCES?

In this section, we’re not just looking at the best white colors but NON-whites as well.

Choosing white for your cabinets and appliances is a low-contrast approach, which means your appliances will blend in rather than stick out.

These appliances are so blended in you can’t even SEE them! 

THE BEST WHITE PAINT COLORS WITH WHITE APPLIANCES

For standard appliances, I recommend going WITH your appliance’s version of white (cool) rather than against it (warm).

Cool whites, or AT LEAST bright and simple whites, will coordinate better with your appliances than WARM whites. Just make sure that a cool white suits the surrounding finishes in your kitchen.

3 Steps to Pick the Best White Paint Color for Your Cabinets & Walls

If your surrounding finishes don’t SUIT cool or clean white cabinets, they likely don’t suit your white appliances either. 

I’m not trying to be mean; I’m just being honest (#truthbomb). If you’re thinking of buying white cabinets, these tips could prevent you from making a big mistake. If you already HAVE white appliances surrounded by warm finishes, life will go on; this is about stopping you from adding another awkward choice to your palette (cool white cabinets would be awkward). This means that if you have wood cabinets and are thinking of painting them white – you might want to think twice.

In this next kitchen, there are actually TWO great choices to consider…

1. The oak wood cabinets look GREAT. While they contrast moderately with the white appliances, the surrounding finishes visually support the cool white of their range and range hood.
2. WHITE cabinets would also look smashing. And because the backsplash tile is a brighter white and the countertop is a cool, stormy gray, choosing a bright white could be a gorgeous choice for this space (i.e. Sherwin Williams High Reflective White).

HOWEVER, while a white-on-white palette is easy on the eyes, it can also look stark and unfriendly, so you’ll want to keep these tips in mind…

TIP 1   CONSIDER NON-WHITE COUNTERTOPS

If you have white cabinets AND APPLIANCES, a non-white countertop could be a great move, offering your kitchen dimension, contrast and interest.

Dark countertops will help to ground the space and give your eyes something firm to land on. It will also break up the monotony of the whites and soften the effect of any potentially mismatched whites…

While the above kitchen only has a white cupboard panel on the fridge, it explains my point perfectly! The island is marble with gray/black, and the perimeter countertops are solid black granite.

The COOL-toned finishes shown above can visually support white appliances.

If you have a lot of black on your appliances (which a lot of the older styles do), black countertops will help to tie these details in so that they aren’t as overwhelming.

THE BEST COUNTERTOPS WITH WHITE APPLIANCES

MANY countertops suit white fridges, stoves, wall ovens and dishwashers, but MOST are either a cool or slightly warm gray…

• Caesarstone Stone Grey
• Caesarstone Clamshell (actually has a TOUCH of warmth to it!)
• Caesarstone Bianco Drift (another one with bits of passive warmth)
• Caesarstone Symphony Grey

TIP 2   BRING IN THE DRAMA LLAMA

If you’re not into darker/black countertops, white cabinets, appliances, and countertops can be pretty darn boring. An all-white space needs some contrast, drama, or visual interest. At the very least, I suggest using a soft gray countertop or fun cool-toned backsplash.

TIP 3   MAKE YOUR WHITE APPLIANCES LOOK INTENTIONAL

Often, white appliances aren’t treated as part of the plan, which leaves them looking uncoordinated and outdated.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS?

• To make white appliances look like ‘part of the plan’. If you don’t integrate your white appliances into your palette, they’ll look like an accident or something you can’t afford to replace right now (which might be the truth!)
• To make white appliances NOT the feature of your kitchen – your appliances shouldn’t be the focal point UNLESS they’re like the GE Cafe series, which are like jewellery for a kitchen. One way or another, we want the focus to be on your beautiful cabinets, countertop, backsplash or paint color.

HOW TO MAKE WHITE APPLIANCES LOOK LIKE PART OF THE PLAN

While you don’t need to do ALL of the items listed below, nodding at a few is a great way to integrate your appliances and create an updated palette.

• paint your cabinets the RIGHT white paint color
• surround your white appliances with COOL finishes, not warm ones
• if your kitchen has a lot of warm finishes, consider a warm NON-WHITE on the cabinets, which can be a good happy medium
• leave your cabinets a wood stain if the surrounding finishes are warm (as these finishes will demand a warm white cabinet color)

The Best Paint Colors to Update Oak or Wood Cabinets

While this last item won’t help your appliances look purposeful, at least you won’t CONTRIBUTE to the disconnect with the wrong paint color.

Here’s a BEFORE photo of one of my client’s kitchens. What could help these appliances look more at home?

A white subway tile backsplash.

Unfortunately (for the sake of this blog post), my above clients shifted to stainless steel appliances. However, I can show you how they updated their space with a white subway tile backsplash and a new countertop…

Could they have KEPT the black countertop and white appliances and JUST replaced the backsplash? You bet your booty they could’ve.

THE BEST NON-WHITE PAINT COLORS TO GO WITH WHITE APPLIANCES

If you’ve realized that white maybe ISN’T the best choice for your kitchen palette, you can explore other colors that won’t directly clash/compete with your white appliances and might even UPDATE their look.

Again, short of the GE Cafe series, few of my clients have white appliances – most choose stainless steel for its flexibility (hence the lack of photos). However, if you’ve got white appliances and want them to look their BEST, consider the following cabinet colors (as long as they suit the countertops/backsplash).

• Sherwin Williams Anew Gray
• Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray
• Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter 
• Sherwin Williams Network Gray

A little deeper, perhaps (that’s what she said)? If you want colors with a little more oomph (super technical term), you can also explore darker colors. Just know that the darker your cabinets are, the higher contrast they’ll be with your appliances.

• Benjamin Moore Hale Navy
• Sherwin Williams Dovetail
• other dark shades of gray
• some dark greige paint colors

FINAL FOOD FOR THOUGHT (without even opening the fridge)

If you have a lot of white in your kitchen, you might want to consider some warm tones and textures to add some balance. There are two ways to do this…

1. WOOD FLOORING

Wood flooring is a natural way to add warmth and texture to a room without interfering too much with color (as long as the wood doesn’t have a STRONG stain color).

2. BUTCHER BLOCK COUNTERTOPS

Ooo, I love me some butcher block countertops – especially on an island!

3. WOOD CUTTING BOARDS & ACCENTS/DETAILS

It doesn’t take much to add some warmth and interest to an overly white kitchen. A few cutting boards, countertop stools or small details can add function AND form to a space.

4. STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES ARE BEST FOR RESALE

No matter how much you love your white appliances, unless they’re the GE Cafe line, they won’t do much for your resale value (according to popular opinion). Why? Stainless steel is seen as the most updated cabinet finish – not white.

READ MORE

The Best Paint Colors to Go With GE Cafe Matte White Appliances

6 Budget-Friendly Home Update Ideas

The New Era of Laminate Countertops & Why They Rock

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing White Paint Colors

The Best Paint Colors for Kitchen Islands & Bathroom Vanities

Chat soon,

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2016, UPDATED FOR YOU IN LATE 2022

The post KITCHEN IDEAS: Decorating With White Appliances & Painted Cabinets appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Oak cabinets – you love ’em (if you’re a man) or hate ’em (if you’re a woman). And yes, I’m generalizing, but I encounter the same gender divides again and again, especially when helping clients update homes with wood finishes. However, it’s oak cabinets that are usually the divorce makers.

And while many designers can’t WAIT to get rid of oak cabinets, I’m a big fan. Sure, some of them need a complete overhaul, however many oak cabinets from the 1980s and 90s are solid gold. Not only do these workhorses stand the test of time in STYLING (those with hidden hinges & simple door profiles), it’s only after 30-40 years of wear and tear that they need some love (kind of like me, wink wink). I’ve seen modern kitchen installations that have barely made it past five years.

However, whether I look at wood cabinets, trims or furniture, I often refer to my favorite saying…

‘just because it’s wood, doesn’t mean it’s good’.

This means that if your wood cabinets are fugly, worn out, or mismatched with other finishes, they won’t be adding value (emotional or monetary) to your home.

There’s a HECK of a lot of orange and pink going on here – and check out that wood grain! 

But before we get into the guts n’ glory of this blog post, you need to figure out what style of cabinets you have…

CABINET DOOR PROFILES

Figuring out which door profile you have can help you make the best choices moving forward.

I know the top right isn’t oak, but it’s the best example of a flat panel with a shaker-style frame

TOP LEFT: shaker style with raised panel

TOP RIGHT: shaker style with flat panel

BOTTOM LEFT: double cathedral

BOTTOM RIGHT: single arch

Are your kitchen cabinets cathedral, arched or shaker style? Shaker style is great as the look transitions to modern styles quite easily. On the other hand, a cathedral or arched style is difficult. Even if you decide to restain your cabinets a lovely finish, they might STILL look outdated as it’s the style that’s dated.

Now let’s talk about some solutions…

1. OAK CABINET UPDATE IDEA – RESTAINING

This article is about ‘updating’ your oak cabinets, not about ‘returning them to their former glory’ – or lack thereof. Therefore, when I mention stain, it’s with the idea of changing and updating – not resurrecting.

RESURRECT: keep the old golden oak and refresh it with a fresh coat of golden oak stain and lacquer

UPDATE: add value to your home with cabinets that are modern and updated

While these next cabinets are GORGEOUS, the red stain isn’t an updated look…

With their muted, more natural stain, these next cabinets are PERFECT as they are…

These cabinets add HUGE value as they look totally updated and are suited to the home!  

If you want to update your home, restain with a darker, more modern stain color OR sand things down completely and opt for a lighter, more natural stain (no strong orange/yellow/red hues). Most home buyers (if you have resale in mind) are looking for the more subtle approach offered by a neutral wood tone, OR they want painted cabinets (usually white).

Sherwin Williams Iron Ore feature wall

5 THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOU RESTAIN YOUR WOOD CABINETS

• Are you thinking of staining them a lighter color than they currently are? Lots of blood, sweat and beers.
• Or maybe you want to stain them a darker color? Still takes lots of work, but it’s easier than going lighter.
• Stay away from the strong yellow, orange and red hues as they will not look updated unless you still live in 1990 (helloooo sponge paint!).
• Choose a stain depth that best suits the surrounding finishes and potential target market (if selling is in your future).
• If you want to refinish your cabinets properly, you’ll need to sand them down entirely. You can play around with Gel Stain, which ‘can’ go over existing stains. However, even professionals have a hard time getting a consistent and quality look that doesn’t wear off (it’s not penetrating, it’s sitting on top of the old finish).

2. OAK CABINET UPDATE IDEA – UPDATE YOUR HARDWARE

More often than not, cabinets from the 80s and 90s don’t have hardware (handles or knobs). While functionally it’s not a big deal as you can still open them, decoratively it’s like you’re missing the last piece of the puzzle.

Transitional style hardware is great and works ESPECIALLY well with cabinets with a shaker door profile. For cathedral-style doors, you’ll want to choose hardware with slightly softer lines (#9, 10,12), nothing too tubular or sleek.

To view/purchase the above hardware, please visit the links in this blog post here: The Best BUDGET FRIENDLY Hardware to Update Oak or Wood Cabinets

And of course, there are always knobs…

To view/purchase the above hardware, please visit the links in this blog post here: The Best BUDGET FRIENDLY Hardware to Update Oak or Wood Cabinets

3. OAK CABINET UPDATE IDEA – ADD CROWN & A VALANCE

Crown molding isn’t just for ceilings!

Crown molding is the ‘crown’ that sits on top of your cabinets – not to be confused with the crown molding that attaches to your ceiling line. The valance is the strip of wood (approx. two-three inches) that’s attached to the bottom part of your upper cabinets. It increases the visual height of your cabinets, gives them a custom profile, and allows them to hide under-cabinet lighting.

These two features take your cabinets from looking like builder basic – to custom-made.

While adding crown molding and a valance isn’t easy-peasy to do, ESPECIALLY with older wood stains, it’s manageable for the average homeowner or a semi-capable handyman.

Click HERE or on the above image to view available packages

4. OAK CABINET UPDATE IDEA – FILL IN THE BULKHEAD

NOTHING makes basic cabinets look more custom than a filled-in bulkhead. And while you can do it with proper cabinets (ideally), you can also save a LOT of money and even DIY it with some well-placed MDF and decorative molding.

My client (below) did just as described above, giving her arched oak cabinets a whole new look…

My next client did the same, although the look is a BIT more natural as the space between the cabinet/ceiling isn’t as tall…

As for this next kitchen, believe it or not, my client updated it for LESS than $3500 – bulkhead and all. She even hand-painted her Zellige-look tiles!

 A Budget-Friendly FULL KITCHEN Makeover!

5. OAK CABINET UPDATE IDEA – PAINT

You had to see this one coming.

Why?

For wood cabinets that have seen better days, paint is a GREAT way to update and modernize them. Many men (and some women) will say, ‘but it’s wood; YOU CAN’T PAINT WOOD!’ and this is where I hand them a scotch on the rocks and calmly repeat my previously mentioned mantra…

‘just because it’s wood, doesn’t mean it’s good.’

And they will still BE wood – they will just be painted wood.

These next cabinets didn’t have any redeeming features…

• the stain is too dark and red and clashes with the flooring
• the door profile is dated

And while my client opted for new doors, she saved money by keeping the cabinet boxes and having them all painted the same beautiful white…

See the FULL REMODEL HERE

And HUGE thanks to all of my E-Design clients who send in their after photos. I rely 99.9% on these and couldn’t do this blog without you! 

You can also consider a happy medium by leaving some areas wood while painting others, as shown in this next beautiful kitchen…

Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze on cabinets, Graystone walls

WHY IS IT GOOD TO PAINT WOOD?

Well, it’s good for resale. Generally speaking, traditional golden oak cabinets appeal to those 70 and older. If that’s your target market, then keep them stained and call it a day. However, if you’re looking to appeal to a younger and more modern crowd (69 years and younger), you’ll want to consider painting them.

I know your hubby is cursing my name right now and polishing his darts – and you’re checking the birth date on your driver’s license and yelling, ‘HONEY, SHE JUST CALLED ME YOUNG AND MODERN! But seriously, if you have resale in mind, you might want to put paint at the top of your to-do list.

See the FULL PROJECT HERE

Undoubtedly, this next kitchen has MUCH more personality than it used to. And while this might not appeal to the masses, if you’re staying in your home, don’t be afraid to embrace a bit of COLOR!

The Best Green Paint Colors

Still not sure whether to stain or paint your wood cabinets? Take the QUESTIONNAIRE! 

A FEW CONSIDERATIONS WHEN UPDATING OAK OR WOOD CABINETS

SHEEN LEVEL

EXPOSED HINGES

If you have exposed hinges, make sure the finish of them matches your handles/knobs – no mix-and-match hardware finishes allowed!

HARDWARE FINISH

Polished nickel and black are the most popular hardware finish, hands down (read more HERE).

CONSIDER KNOBS ON THE DOORS, PULLS ON THE DRAWERS

If you currently have handles on your cabinet doors, consider filling in that hole and installing knobs instead. Using two different types of hardware on your cabinets creates a custom look (see hardware HERE).

THE GRAIN OF YOUR WOOD (OAK IN PARTICULAR)

The shinier your paint finish is – the more the grain of your oak will show. If you can have them professionally sprayed, go for it. This will give you the best chance to reduce the amount of grain you see. While you CAN take the time to fill in the grain to get a more seamless approach, it’s a biiiig project.

APPLIANCE COLOR

If you have white or black appliances, you’ll need to figure out which color makes the most sense regarding contrasting with the appliances (black appliances with white cabinets) or blending them in (white appliances with white cabinets). I can help! Black appliance owners HERE. White appliance owners HERE

THESE are some gorgeous wood cabinets!

Want more?

5 MORE Ideas: How to Update Oak Without a Drop of Paint (PART 2)

Budget-Friendly Hardware to Update Wood Cabinets (PART 3)

The 16 Best Paint Colors to Update Oak or Wood Cabinets or Trim (PART 4)

READ MORE

The 15 Best Paint Colors to go with Oak / Wood

Are Gray Cabinets, Walls & Exteriors Still Trendy?

How to Pick the BEST Paint Color for Your Kitchen Cabinets

The Best Gray and Greige Paint Colors for Cabinets

Not sure what to do with your kitchen?

Check out my Online Decorating and Color Services 

Originally written in 2016, awesomely updated in 2022

*This post may contain affiliate links that I have carefully selected, meaning if you purchase an item or sign up for a service through a link in this post I may receive a commission.  These programs are a big help to me to be able to maintain this blog. Thank you in advance if you find something you are interested in and choose to purchase with these providers.

The post 5 Ideas: How to Update Oak or Wood Kitchen Cabinets (PART 1) appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you know that I don’t partner with many companies. However, when the opportunity arose to partner with Schlage, I was EXCITED!

I’m a bit of a weirdo when it comes to hardware as not only does it need to LOOK good, it needs to FEEL good (which is also why I chose my hubby). I went to Home Depot and Lowes and there were a few brands that didn’t quite float my boat. Schlage, on the other hand, had the look good/feel good combo I was looking for.

BEDROOM, BATHROOM & CLOSET DOORS

LATITUDE LEVER WITH CENTURY TRIM

While you can get this same combo in-store, I was ordering online (where it’s easier to see ALL of the options available) and chose the Latitude style lever with Century trim as I like the combo of clean and curvy lines.

While Schlage has a TON of knob options, I’m a lever-girl…

But like MOST online images, it’s way nicer to see things in action in a REAL home…

I chose the Century profile as my cabinets are a shaker style in the kitchen and the doors have a similar profile. There is a more square profile available, but I liked the subtle softness of this one…