If you’ve ever shopped for antique furniture or an old home, you’ve probably been asked the question: Does it have “good build”? This expression is similar to the old adage “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” What it means is that if a structure’s foundation is good to begin with, you can easily improve it back to its original luster to last a lifetime. But like all good things, you have to start with a solid core. The same can be said of his kitchen when he’s tackling a remodel, which was the premise behind a recent “Chicago Tribune” article titled “Nate’s Approach: Build Good Bones.” The Nate the article is talking about? None other than regular Oprah, interior designer Nate Berkus.
Subtitled “How to Design a Timeless Classic Kitchen,” the story offered a list of ingredients and some styling tips for remodeling a kitchen that never goes out of style. However, before delving into Berkus’s suggestions, the article pointed to “Remodeling” magazine’s annual “Cost vs. Value” report to pin the price of a major kitchen remodel in 2008-2009 at a whopping $56,661. . Faced with a price tag like that, you’ll want to make sure your kitchen remodeling efforts are the ones that will stand the test of time.
“Ideally, [your kitchen remodel] it should look as sharp and attractive in a couple of decades as it will on the day the renovation team pulls out,” the article emphasizes. But how to achieve this formidable feat? Here’s Berkus’ top tip: Your “beautiful bone structure” kitchen.
Aside from tearing up your house and starting over or adding to it, there are parts of your house that aren’t going to change. “The entire Berkus team considers floors and other immutable materials to be the ‘bones’ of a home, and they see it as their job to build bones that are timeless.”
In Berkus’ opinion, what are the timeless bones?
1. White or red oak floors for their sturdiness and ability to age gracefully.
2. Marble on the countertops
3. Shaker-style cabinets, which have eschewed trends and managed to last almost forever while remaining classic.
4. Upper glass cabinets, “which provide a lighter air to the room”
5. A tiled backsplash
6. White and gray paint.
7. Polished nickel hardware
8. Stainless steel appliances
“With these [elements] As the contending Foundations, Berkus, and team state, homeowners can change things up in the future by manipulating less permanent details like chair cushions, drapes, and accessories,” the article concludes.
Now the challenge remains to find and bring together all of these elements into a kitchen remodel that will never go out of style. An online kitchen superhub can provide you with kitchen remodeling ideas and links to manufacturers of Armstrong hardwood floors, DuPont countertops, KraftMaid cabinets, Florida Tile, Behr premium paint, Liberty Hardware, and GE appliances—all in one convenient place. By browsing their sample designs, tips, and information, you can plan your goals, size your space correctly, plan your storage, and manage your overall remodel.
