10 Creative Ways to Use the Space Between Your Kitchen Cabinets & the Ceiling

modern white kitchen with tall cabinets to minimize the space between your kitchen cabinets and the ceiling

Most homeowners consider the space between the kitchen cabinets and the ceiling unattractive and a waste of precious square footage. This design feature is intended to create a more open feel. And standard-dimension cabinets are not installed to reach the ceiling because they’d be too high to reach. So, what are you supposed to do with that awkward gap?  10 Ways to Use the Space Between Your Cabinets and Ceiling We’ve come up with some creative ways you can maximize the space between your kitchen cabinets and the ceiling.  1. Extend the cabinets to the ceiling With custom kitchen cabinets, you can add an open shelf below the cabinets, allowing you to move the standard cabinets up to the ceiling.  Another option is to select taller-than-standard cabinets, creating an extra top shelf inside your cupboards, and completely eliminating the gap. Keep in mind, the top shelf will be difficult to reach, so it’s best used to store items you don’t … Read more

14 Effective Techniques to Make Your Small Kitchen Look & Feel Bigger

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You don’t have to choose between cramped or convenient in your small kitchen. Whether you’re planning a kitchen renovation or designing a kitchen for a new home, there are clever ways to make your small kitchen seem more spacious. 14 Ideas to Make Your Small Kitchen Look & Feel Bigger We’ve rounded up 14 of our favourite ways to make your small kitchen roomier. You don’t have to employ them all. Implementing even one or two will make a big difference in your small space.  1. Select Colours & Materials Strategically White is a small kitchen’s best friend. It reflects light and creates the illusion of a larger space. Multiply the effect by using several shades of white throughout your kitchen.  If white doesn’t appeal to you, stick with lighter hues like light yellows or pale grays to create an airy feel. If you’re determined to incorporate darker colours, be sure to keep the darkest shades in the lower third … Read more

Top 10 Kitchen Upgrades to Add Value to Your Home

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The kitchen is one of the top 3 most important rooms of your home. It can significantly elevate the design, functionality, and value of your property. But an inefficient or outdated kitchen can actually diminish the look, feel, functionality, and value of your home. But which kitchen upgrades add the most value to your home?  10 Kitchen Upgrades to Add Value to Your Home A kitchen renovation is a big investment. (See How much does a kitchen renovation cost?) If you want to get the best bang for your buck, you must be strategic in choosing which elements of your kitchen to upgrade. These 10 kitchen upgrades will get you the best return on your investment. 1. Put in new countertops Durable countertops are crucial because they undergo a lot of wear and tear—chopping, hot cookware, and more. The countertop is also one of the largest surfaces in your kitchen, so it greatly affects the visual appearance of the space.  … Read more

The Top 10 Kitchen Design Trends for 2023

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Most homeowners don’t update their kitchens every year to keep up with the latest trends. But if it’s time to renovate your kitchen or design a brand new custom kitchen, it’s good to be aware of what’s in style right now. A classic kitchen has its place, but a kitchen with on-trend design elements is top-notch and increases your home’s value. Riverstone’s Top 10 Kitchen Design Trends for 2023 These are the top 10 kitchen design trends we’re excited about for 2023.  1. Lower Cabinet Drawers Lower cabinet drawers might be our favourite design trend because they’re incredibly practical. Drawers hold so much and are far more accessible and convenient than a bottom cupboard shelf.  2. Slab Backsplash Marble, stone, or quartz slab backsplashes are replacing subway tiles. The slab backsplash can be a bold statement in your kitchen. It’s also practical because it’s seamless, so it’s easier to clean than a backsplash with grout lines.  3. Butler’s Pantry Also … Read more

Improve Rental ROI With These Top 5 Kitchen Upgrades for Rental Properties

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Kitchen upgrades lead to plenty of valuable benefits for you as a landlord—increased property value, less maintenance, and attracting a better pool of applicants, to name a few. Statistics show that there is always value in a kitchen renovation.  3 Important Considerations Before Upgrading the Kitchen in Your Rental Property Your inclination might be to renovate your rental property kitchen with the lowest possible budget. But it’s important to consider the kind of renters you want to attract and the value of durability. You don’t want to be renovating after every tenant; you want something that can withstand the test of time.  Don’t worry! This doesn’t mean you need to put in a high-end custom kitchen. There is a happy medium that maximizes your investment.  Here are three other things to think about when upgrading your rental property kitchen. 1. Simplicity is key Your tenants want to customize the home as much as possible. They also have a monthly budget. … Read more

Is a u-shaped kitchen layout right for me?

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What kitchen design layout is right for you? Many factors determine the answer to this question. This post focuses on the u-shaped kitchen layout to help you decide if it’s right for you. We’ll look at the pros and cons of a u-shaped kitchen layout and give you some tips to make a u-shaped kitchen work for you.  What is a U-Shaped Kitchen Design Layout? A u-shaped kitchen layout has 3 connected sides that form a “u” or horseshoe shape. This layout provides an open feel, allowing you easy access from the wide open end and plenty of freedom to move around and work in the middle space. 5 Advantages of a U-Shaped Kitchen Layout Why would someone choose a u-shaped kitchen layout? What are the benefits? Let’s look at 5 pros.  1. Abundant Counter Space Because a u-shaped kitchen has 3 connected walls, this layout provides plenty of counter space. This allows multiple work areas and can accommodate more … Read more

How to Make Your Kitchen More Kid-Friendly

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A timeless family-friendly kitchen design can support family connection. In this post, we want to focus specifically on kids in the kitchen. Let’s explore how you can encourage your kids to be in the kitchen—and why you should want to.  9 Benefits of Kids in the Kitchen Perhaps the most obvious benefit of involving kids in cooking is that you have help and won’t have to do all the work yourself. But there are so many more reasons to cultivate kitchen confidence in your children! The advantages are life-changing and long-lasting. Lay a foundation for a healthy lifestyle When you include your children in the preparation of family meals, snacks, and packed lunches, they learn how to make healthy food choices. You can explain why you use fruits and vegetables and talk about a balanced diet. Teaching your children to cook at home gives them the skills necessary to avoid processed foods or resorting to a fast food diet.  Expand … Read more

10 Practical Ways to Remodel Your Kitchen to Make it More Functional

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Is it time to remodel your kitchen to increase functionality? If it feels like you never have enough space to store things, or if the layout makes cooking in your kitchen frustrating, a custom kitchen renovation might be the answer.  How to Remodel Your Kitchen for Maximum Functionality Design your new kitchen with these top 10 practical tips for a more functional kitchen. 1. Incorporate the work triangle The work triangle is like an imaginary line between the sink, the cooktop, the fridge, and back to the sink. It’s the standard for kitchen design—and has been for the last 100 years—because it optimizes efficiency no matter what the size and shape of your kitchen may be.  When your kitchen is designed based on the work triangle, movement is minimized so you can access all the key elements of your kitchen in as few steps as possible. You get minimum movement, maximum convenience.  This design concept also allows for appropriate counter … Read more

How to Choose the Best Flooring for Your Kitchen Renovation

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Your kitchen flooring is an important selection. It’s the foundation of your entire kitchen design, and it’s also the foundation you stand and walk on as you work in your kitchen. It must be beautiful and durable at the same time. Here are some tips for choosing the best flooring for your kitchen renovation. 5 Things to Consider When Choosing Kitchen Flooring The prominence of your kitchen flooring makes it crucial that your choice isn’t based on colour or price alone. There are various factors to consider. Let’s look at 5 key things that determine the best flooring for your kitchen. 1. Ease of Maintenance The kitchen is arguably the messiest area of your home. Your flooring collects crumbs and catches spills. It gets sticky and needs regular cleaning. When choosing kitchen flooring, ask “How easy is it to clean and maintain this flooring?” Choose a material that’s water-resistant and stain-resistant. 2. Comfort You don’t think of flooring as something … Read more

9 Simple Ways to Design a Timeless Family-Friendly Kitchen

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Traditionally, we consider the kitchen the heart of the home, and for good reason. In the kitchen, you nourish your family with food, meaningful conversation, and homework help. The design of your kitchen should support these connections. So how can you create a family-friendly kitchen? How to Design a Family-Friendly Kitchen Every family is unique, so the kitchen design that works best for someone else might not work best for you. That said, there are a few universal tips to make sure you optimize your kitchen for your family.  1. Evaluate your needs What’s important to your family? How do you want to use your kitchen? Think about your needs and make a list to understand your kitchen design goals. Here are a few things to consider: Do you want your children involved in preparing meals? How many people do you expect to be in the kitchen at the same time? Do you want your children to ‌prepare some foods … Read more

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