Kitchen Design
Decorating Guides
10 Upgrades for a Touch of Kitchen Elegance
Give your kitchen a more refined look by changing just a detail or two
“Elegant,” “sophisticated,” “simply beautiful” — are these words you would use to describe your dream kitchen? Even just adding a coat of paint, new lighting and carefully chosen decorative details can bring your current kitchen a bit closer to that dream. Here are 10 upgrades to consider.
2. Topiary. A pair of topiaries flanking the sink is an elegant finishing touch. Use a vintage champagne bucket as a cachepot, or wrap a simple pot in burlap and tie on a velvet bow. If your kitchen gets a good amount of natural light, by all means get real plants — but if not, there’s no shame in picking up a couple of high-quality fakes.
See more of this New Jersey home
See more of this New Jersey home
3. Pendant lighting. Swapping out a plain ceiling light fixture for something with more style can be done quickly — and your new pendant light can become the focal point of the room. Don’t be afraid to go big; even in a small kitchen like the one shown here, a sizable pendant looks striking, not overpowering.
4. A rich cabinet color. Whether you paint your cabinets or stain them a natural wood tone, a rich color is a high-impact, low cost way to change the look of your kitchen. Try a saturated hue like the blue-green shown here, or a chic gray or slate on just the lower cabinets.
8 kitchen cabinet color palettes
Pendant: Alison Spear for Stephanie Odegard
4. A rich cabinet color. Whether you paint your cabinets or stain them a natural wood tone, a rich color is a high-impact, low cost way to change the look of your kitchen. Try a saturated hue like the blue-green shown here, or a chic gray or slate on just the lower cabinets.
8 kitchen cabinet color palettes
Pendant: Alison Spear for Stephanie Odegard
5. Wall paint. If you don’t want to repaint or restain your cabinets, another way to bring in color is by painting the walls. With all of the appliances and cabinetry, kitchen wall space is often fairly limited — which means not only is it quicker to paint, but the color is less likely to overwhelm than in, say, the living room. Try a smoky blue, rich “greige” or warm mocha.
4 easy changes for your kitchen’s color palette
Blue paint: Mount Saint Anne, Benjamin Moore
4 easy changes for your kitchen’s color palette
Blue paint: Mount Saint Anne, Benjamin Moore
6. Upscale counter stools. There are so many options when it comes to kitchen counter seating that there’s no reason to stick with plain bar stools, unless you want to. Try classic bistro stools (like the ones shown here), sculptural wooden stools or sleek Lucite ones.
Also notice the pendant lights in this kitchen — if you have a long counter, placing a row of three large-scale pendant lights above is a great way to bring focus to the space. Glass pendants like the ones shown here are elegant and maximize light.
How to do kitchen-island pendant lights right
Stools: Riviera, Serena & Lily
Also notice the pendant lights in this kitchen — if you have a long counter, placing a row of three large-scale pendant lights above is a great way to bring focus to the space. Glass pendants like the ones shown here are elegant and maximize light.
How to do kitchen-island pendant lights right
Stools: Riviera, Serena & Lily
7. Glass cabinet fronts. Update old cabinets by having several of the doors replaced with glass fronts. This costs far less than replacing full cabinets and can completely change the look and feel of your kitchen. Remember, whatever is in the new glass-front cabinets will be visible at all times, so choose just a few cabinet fronts to replace and commit to keeping the interiors orderly.
8 ways to work glass into your kitchen cabinets
Cabinet paint: October Mist; wall paint: Cameo White, both by Benjamin Moore
8 ways to work glass into your kitchen cabinets
Cabinet paint: October Mist; wall paint: Cameo White, both by Benjamin Moore
If you’re not frightened of spills, lay down a beautiful (but not priceless) Oriental carpet. Rugs made from wool and other natural materials are quite forgiving when it comes to stain removal, as long as you act promptly.
9. Branches in a tall vase. Branches last far longer than cut flowers — but more than that, they exude elegance. An armful of seasonal branches plunked in a tall vessel is an easy way to instantly boost the ambience in your kitchen.
10. Decorative details. Framed artwork on the wall — and not just “kitchen” art but art you could just as easily hang in another room — can add polish to any kitchen.
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Vintage seaweed prints: Winter Works on Paper
See more of this house
Vintage seaweed prints: Winter Works on Paper
Mirrors are unexpected in the kitchen, and just like in other spaces, they can be a wonderful way to boost light. A small table lamp tucked onto the counter brings a warm glow that makes a kitchen feel more welcoming.
More: 8 popular kitchen cabinet door styles
What kitchen detail says elegance to you? Something mentioned here or perhaps something else — wine storage? A great stove? Please share your thoughts in the Comments.
What kitchen detail says elegance to you? Something mentioned here or perhaps something else — wine storage? A great stove? Please share your thoughts in the Comments.
Styling tips for your Roman shades