Paint Color

How to Add Shades of Green to Your Kitchen Design
How to Add Shades of Green to Your Kitchen Design 1080 811 Chris & Dick's | an ILG Company

From chartreuse to avocado to teal, green is a trending color in today’s kitchen design.

Green is a great hue to incorporate into your kitchen design because it can evoke many positive emotions, including a sense of peace, calm, happiness and wellbeing. One of the reasons for this is that green mimics the tones you would see outside in nature – and human beings crave a connection with nature in their everyday lives. It only makes sense to add this color to a room you visit as often as your kitchen.

Still, no matter how much you love green, you want the color to enhance the room without making it look garish. How do you achieve the right balance?

The professional design team at Chris & Dick’s handled this question countless times over the 60+ years our firm has been in business. From their deep well of experience, they offer the following tips on adding shades of green to your kitchen design.

1. Play with green in your cabinets.

Whether you decide to go bold with Kelly green or subtle with a sage hue, colorful cabinets are one of the latest kitchen trends. Green cabinets create a harmonious look since the shade matches nicely with the browns, greys and taupes in today’s hardwood or vinyl plank flooring and neutral-toned walls and countertops.

You can achieve different effects with green cabinets by changing up the hardware. For example, if your cabinets are dark green, brass or wooden drawer pulls lend warmth. Lighter shades like grey-green or lime look fresh with silver-toned, black or white hardware.

And remember: adding just a few green cabinets while leaving the rest neutral is a more subdued, two-toned approach that will still give the room a pop of color and character.

2. Install a green island.

Speaking of pops of color, your kitchen island is a great place to add green. While your countertops should be mostly neutral-toned so as not to overpower the room, your island cabinets can reflect your personal sense of style and fun. Why not do that by installing an island in your favorite shade of green, whether it’s pale cool green, forest, or something in between?

If an entire green island is bolder than you’d like, you can always just accent the ends or even just the drawer facings. Pair it with granite countertops that have green veins and colorings to emphasize the color without overdoing it.

3. Consider a green accent wall or alcove.

A wall or corner of the room is one of the best places in your kitchen to introduce green. This use of color lends dimension and interest to a room without overwhelming it – and it is also very much in vogue in today’s kitchen designs.

A bright fern or jungle green accent wall or alcove will really stand out against white or cream walls and cabinets, whereas paler shades such as artichoke or honeydew are more relaxing. Choose a shade that complements the colors of other elements in the room, such as seating, lighting fixtures, bowls or artwork.

If an accent wall or alcove isn’t feasible, consider adding green in your backsplash or trim for another way to incorporate this color into your kitchen.

4. Think living things.

Before committing to any of the above suggestions, you can “audition” green in your kitchen by adding plants.

A large potted ficus, herb garden, or hanging plant is a nice way to bring the outdoors in and incorporate some of nature’s green into your kitchen design.

Be sure the places you add greenery allow the appropriate amount of sunlight to reach the plants, and keep up with food and watering to ensure they remain healthy.

Don’t have a green thumb? Silk plants can look just as beautiful in your kitchen without any upkeep.

Green is a gorgeous color to integrate into your kitchen remodel. By playing with green cabinets, installing a green island, adding a green accent wall or alcove, and including some plant life, you can incorporate green into a kitchen design you’ll love for many years.

4 Tips for Matching Your Flooring, Countertop and Cabinet Choices
4 Tips for Matching Your Flooring, Countertop and Cabinet Choices 2560 1441 Chris & Dick's | an ILG Company

Choosing finishes that match can be one of the most satisfying and yet frustrating parts of a kitchen or bathroom renovation project.

There is a multitude of materials, colors and styles of flooring, countertops and cabinets available to today’s homeowners. And while it’s wonderful to have so many options, how do you know what will ultimately look great together in your home?

First, take a deep breath. Then, realize that selecting coordinated finishes to achieve your ideal home design doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. Our seasoned team of design professionals has been helping homeowners make finish decisions on their remodeling projects for many years. Below are a few of their tips for taking the stress out of this process and ending up with results you’ll love.

1. Begin by choosing your countertops.

Your project will go much more smoothly if you start by selecting your counters first. Why? There are many more color and pattern variables in countertops than in flooring or cabinetry, so choosing this element first will be much less limiting later.

The top three countertop materials – quartz, granite and marble – each have unique hues and striations that are beautiful but can be difficult to match exactly with a fixed cabinet or flooring choice. Also, your countertop is typically front and center and therefore the most visible element when people enter the room – it makes sense to choose this element first since it will get a lot of attention.

Take it from the experts: you’ll have an easier time matching your cabinets and flooring to your countertops than vice versa.

2. Select a simple color scheme.

Color is your friend, but too many different colors in a room design can appear chaotic rather than coordinated.

For a more put-together look, choose two main shades that complement each other and one accent for a pop of color. For example, combining white cabinets and flooring with a black countertop is both classic and modern. Add a shot of red in the form of a backsplash, seating or light fixtures and you’ve created a coordinated design that still looks distinctive.

You also can’t go wrong if you stick with neutrals, which are perennially popular. Grey has become the newest, freshest color for home décor, and it mixes well with other neutral tones. Think pale grey cabinets with a white countertop and walnut-toned hardwood or vinyl plank flooring. Brighter accents like fuchsia, blue and sunny yellow look fabulous with grey as well.

Whichever colors you choose, make sure you like them well enough to live with them for several years – because you will.

3. Consider texture.

Texture in home design comes from the materials used within a room and can help you match the components of a kitchen or bathroom when renovating.

For example, sticking with wood or wood-like materials in cabinets, countertops and flooring works thematically by carrying similar textures throughout the room. Adding metal drawer or cabinet pulls that mimic metal appliances or accents is another way to achieve a cohesive look.

Texture also contributes depth and richness to a home design without having to rely too much on color. In fact, varying texture while staying within the same color scheme is a great way to match the elements of your remodel while adding visual interest to the room. For instance, grey wooden cabinets, a charcoal marble countertop, and stone-colored plank flooring play within one color family but still offer the eye some contrast. Add a pop of color in your accent pieces and you have an appealing, fresh room design.

4. Look for what “goes” instead of what matches exactly.

 Just as you avoid “matchy-matchy” clothing ensembles, you should avoid room designs that are overly color coordinated. Some of the magic and character of a room comes from contrast – items that are complementary rather than identical in appearance.

That means opting for a bold cabinet choice and pairing it with neutral flooring and countertop colors or matching cabinet and flooring colors and letting your countertop stand out as your secondary shade.

No matter which colors you choose, they should enhance rather than fight with each other. Too much contrast is confusing to the eye, and too little contrast can be just a tad monotonous. Strike a comfortable balance for a look that’s interesting and inviting.

While selecting countertops, cabinets and flooring that match in a kitchen or bathroom remodel can seem daunting, it doesn’t have to be. By starting out with your countertop choice, opting for a simple color scheme, considering texture, and looking for what “goes” instead of what matches exactly, you can streamline your selection process and achieve a room remodel you’ll love for years.

4 Ways to Set Up Your Home Renovation Projects for Success
4 Ways to Set Up Your Home Renovation Projects for Success 2560 1894 Chris & Dick's | an ILG Company

While everyone begins a home renovation project with the best of intentions, success isn’t always guaranteed. With all that is entailed in completing these projects, you can easily find yourself going overbudget, extending timelines, or worst of all – unhappy with the results.

Clearly, you need a thoughtful approach so that the work goes smoothly, your budget stays intact, and you achieve fabulous results. So, how do you ensure your home renovation projects cross the finish line successfully?

At Chris & Dick’s, our design professionals have been advising clients on their home design projects for more than 60 years and have helped bring thousands of remodeling dreams to fruition. Given our deep expertise in this area, we recommend the following strategies for setting up your home renovation projects for success.

1. Create a plan.

While it’s tempting to dive right in and start buying materials for your renovation, a smarter approach is to sit down and think about your home design goals and plan out how you’re going to achieve them.

A strong home remodeling plan includes a clear idea of your budget, an outline of the work involved, drawings or renderings of your completed project, the materials you’ll need, and a schedule of what will be done when. (Tip: You can get lots of design inspo for your project online from sites like Pinterest, as well as design magazines and HGTV shows.)

Creating a plan – even if you need to adjust it along the way – is the best way to start your project off on the right foot so you can achieve the results you’re seeking.

2. Account for all costs.

Even the best-planned home renovations can get derailed if you’re faced with unexpected costs.

Help costs remain in check by keeping your plumbing pipes, electrical outlets, appliances, water fixtures, and walls in the same location as before the remodel, which will save you money on demolition and reconstruction and reduce the amount of dust and debris created. Also avoid knocking down walls as this can generate issues that are expensive to fix.

In addition, before beginning any remodeling project, have your vendors provide you with written costs for labor and materials, including what might impact those costs.

For example, quartz, granite, and marble are all popular choices for countertops today, but the cost of each of these materials varies, so it’s important to know how they vary and what you’re getting for your money. In addition, where and how materials are sourced and their availability can impact costs as well.

Also, unexpected delays during construction can extend timelines and drive up labor costs. Knowing in advance how your contractor or construction team bills for labor can prevent unpleasant surprises along the way.

3. Be conscious of quality.

Saving a few dollars on cheaper goods usually ends up costing you more in the end and isn’t worth the headaches.

Your renovation should last you a long time. Buying quality goods in brands with solid reputations and good consumer reviews will give you peace of mind and set you up for many years of enjoyment without the hassle of products that break or wear out before their expected lifetime is up.

Take the time to research the materials you plan to purchase for your project and make sure they meet your quality standards. A reputable design professional can also steer you in the right direction when it comes to a cost/benefits analysis.

Masterbrand Floating bathroom Cabinet, ©Karen Melvin Photography

4. Work with an experienced design professional.

Although hiring a handyman to complete your project might sound like a great way to save money, you could be putting the quality of your project at risk. Instead, hire a design expert who has a portfolio of home renovation projects under their belt, can show you samples of their work and can help guide you through the process.

Look for a design professional who is noted for having an open communication style so you can make informed decisions and keep tabs on the project as it progresses. For example, at Chris & Dick’s, our seasoned design professionals will work with you from start to finish to choose the perfect cabinets and countertops for your kitchen or bathroom remodel. You can visit our 10,000 square-foot showroom to learn about the latest design trends and consult with a designer about what will work in your home and with your budget and timeline. An installer will then visit your home to get accurate measurements of the space, and we’ll provide 3D renderings of your completed projects and consult with you every step of the way to ensure you’re thrilled with the results.

While you might save a little money by using a handyman for your home renovation projects, it could end up costing you more in the end if work has to be redone.

While no home renovation project is guaranteed to go exactly as expected, you can utilize some time-tested strategies to help you reach your goals. By creating a plan, working with an experienced design professional, accounting for all costs, and spending money on quality materials, you can set up your projects for success and achieve a remodel that you’ll be happy with for many years to come.

Color Tips for Your Kitchen or Bathroom Remodel
Color Tips for Your Kitchen or Bathroom Remodel 1080 608 Chris & Dick's | an ILG Company

One of the first things everyone notices about a kitchen or bathroom remodel is the color palette. In fact, a simple color change can alter the entire look of a room.

Color heavily influences our perceptions about a space and can even affect our mood, so it’s important when completing a kitchen or bathroom remodel to choose colors that best enhance the room and have the impact you intend.

But how can you be sure you’re making the right color decisions?

Since Chris & Dick’s has been around for more than 60 years and has seen home color trends come and go, our team of design professionals knows a lot about helping people choose colors for a home renovation. Here they offer tips for picking the right colors for your kitchen or bathroom remodel.

1. Don’t be afraid to go bold with your cabinets…

It may sound counterintuitive to place assertive tones in two of the most-used rooms of the home, but bold-hued cabinets can work really well in kitchens and bathrooms.

Cabinets in dark or saturated shades serve as pops of color that truly liven up a neutral-toned room and give it extra character. Be bold – your kitchen or bathroom may be the perfect place for navy blue or forest green cabinets or, you can even mix and match by going the two-toned route.

If you prefer a more conservative look with white or neutral cabinets, you can always use more robust tones in other elements of the room. Black cabinets in a white or cream room also make a dramatic statement, but be aware that you will need to be more diligent about keeping dust in check.

2. …but not necessarily with your countertops.

When choosing a countertop color, our designers say it’s best to opt for neutral shades because they’re much more versatile than bright hues. After all, you’ll likely be living with your countertop color choices for many years – let’s be real, how long will your love for a purple hued counter last? If you want to change up your room’s color palette some time down the road, a neutral-hued countertop won’t limit your options.

Neutral shades range from the brightest white to black – and all of these tones can serve as the perfect backdrop to your cabinet and wall color choices. Black or dark grey countertops contrast beautifully with almost any color in the rainbow and are very much in vogue these days.

Quartz, granite, and marble are the most popular materials for countertops today, and they are generally all neutral in color. Many of these materials feature interesting markings and striations that lend additional color making them even more unique.

3. Let the walls be your canvas.

Believe it or not, kitchen and bathroom walls can be just about any color you want them to be if paired appropriately with your cabinets, countertops, and other colors in the room.

Light-toned neutral walls are perfect for showing off beautiful cabinetry, where you can get more creative with pops of color as mentioned above. They also let well-chosen countertops, appliances, and lighting fixtures shine without competing against a gorgeous backsplash.

On the other hand, brightly colored painted or wallpapered walls can be a fun and refreshing addition to your home if your cabinets are a neutral shade. Keep in mind that most kitchen and bathroom walls are broken up by appliances, windows, furnishings, and accent pieces, so you are not likely to have a big empty wall with a color that’s too vivid, which could be jarring. Instead, these colors serve as borders and complements to the other elements of the room.

Also remember that a space painted in a lighter color will look and feel larger than the same space in a more saturated tone, while you can make a spacious room feel cozier by choosing a stronger shade of paint or wallpaper. Additionally, the amount of light in the room – both natural and artificial – will impact how big or small the room feels.

4. Pay attention to the experts … and yourself.

Experienced home design professionals can be extremely helpful when making color choices for a kitchen or bathroom remodel and helping you discover your own tastes and preferences.

Chris & Dick’s seasoned design team is deeply experienced in giving color advice, so you’ll get an unbiased opinion and some expert guidance to help you pick the perfect colors for your remodel. They also understand that you are the ultimate decisionmaker in your home design choices, and they will encourage you to choose colors you love.

Do you adore red, have a passion for midnight blue, or swoon over sunflower yellow? Allow that passion to inform your color choices, and let your own sense of style lead the way.

While choosing colors for a kitchen or bathroom remodel can seem daunting, there are ways to make the process more fun and less intimidating. By daring to go bold with cabinets, keeping countertops neutral, letting the walls be your canvas, and seeking some expert guidance while letting your own style shine through, you can choose colors that you will love long after your renovation project is complete.

Tips for Achieving Your Perfect Kitchen Style
Tips for Achieving Your Perfect Kitchen Style 2560 1566 Chris & Dick's | an ILG Company

It’s time for a remodel of one of the most important rooms in your home: the kitchen. If you’ve been poring over decorating magazines, Pinterest boards, and design websites, you may be more confused than ever about how to create your ideal look. Given the wealth of options, how do you achieve the kitchen style that’s perfect for you?

Fortunately, Chris and Dick’s knows how to help people wade through the options and attain their ideal kitchen style. As a resource for guiding homeowners toward reaching their renovation goals for more than 60 years, we are highly experienced in dialing down the stress of making these important decisions and assisting customers in achieving the home design of their dreams.

While the list of possible kitchen styles is long, here are a few of the most popular styles today and our recommendations for how to bring them to life in your home.

1. Classic—The enduring quality of a classic look is one of the reasons why this kitchen design is so popular. Classic kitchens are always in style because they are clean and simple, and part of their attractiveness is that classic main elements – cabinets, countertops, and appliances – can be combined with non-classic components like furniture, accessories, and lighting to create a customized look.

For a classic kitchen design, choose white or cream cabinets; white or black countertops in quartz, granite, or marble; and light-toned wall colors. Architectural details should be simple and understated, and black or bright accents lend contrast. Add in a few of your own special touches and meaningful pieces to achieve a classic kitchen style that has your own personal stamp on it.

2. Rustic—While this delightfully imperfect genre has been around for a while, its appeal is still fresh. In fact, the rustic style is equally as popular as a classic kitchen is today. Many homeowners are drawn to rustic designs for the richness and implied history they impart as well as their forgiving nature, as scratches and flaws are inherent in this style.

Since distressed materials are a hallmark of the rustic look, choosing reclaimed wood for your countertops will fit right in with your theme, be better for the environment, and is generally more affordable. As for your cabinets, lighter colors such as off-white, light grey or light blue, combined with the wooden countertops creates a vibrant, rustic feel.

You might also consider brick and timber components to add texture and visual interest to the room, and vintage appliances and fireplaces make for great conversation pieces in a rustic kitchen as well.

3. Farmhouse—The farmhouse look has gained traction in our high-tech society as people enjoy being reminded of simpler times. This warm style is comforting and inviting and works great in today’s kitchens.

To achieve the farmhouse style in your kitchen, choose wide and deep sinks with quartz, marble, or granite countertops, paired with a degree of open shelving for displaying decorative kitchenware.

While wooden countertops also align well with this style, opting for a quartz, granite, or marble option will give you durability and aesthetic appeal. Save the wood for your cabinets, flooring, or a nice big kitchen table that is workable, beautiful, and can accommodate guests or a large family easily.

Although primary colors tend to work well in farmhouse-style kitchens, softer shades like cream, white, and pale yellow can really open up and enlarge the room.

4. Industrial—A little bit modern and a little bit retro, an industrial-style kitchen has an almost masculine look and feel while offering affordability and versatility.

To pull off an industrial look in your kitchen, choose quartz, granite, or marble countertops in cool colors, combined with dark grey, white, or brown cabinets. Although a small detail, the handles on your cabinets can really make a difference in creating the industrial look. Sleek cabinet options work well, however one should opt for decorative handles in a copper or cast-iron finish for a true industrial appearance.

Brick walls and exposed-steel surfaces can further enhance the look of an industrial kitchen. Pops of color, such as red, also work well to brighten up the design and add an edgy feel.

Achieving your perfect kitchen style can be a fun adventure if you follow some basic rules and then let your intuition guide you. The help of an experienced kitchen-design professional can help save you time and money, as well. Whether you choose a design that’s classic, rustic, farmhouse, industrial (or other popular looks like coastal, cottage, contemporary, traditional, or modern), infuse the space with your own unique flair, and you’ll achieve a kitchen remodel that reflects your singular style.

How to Use the Paint Color of the Year – Aegean Teal – to Create a Pop of Color to Your Home Décor
How to Use the Paint Color of the Year – Aegean Teal – to Create a Pop of Color to Your Home Décor 1080 811 Chris & Dick's | an ILG Company

If you pay attention to home décor trends, you may have already heard of Aegean Teal, Benjamin Moore’s Paint Color of the Year for 2021.

If you aren’t yet familiar with this hue, Aegean Teal is a blend of blue-green with a touch of gray, reminiscent of ocean water. The shade is both soothing and cooling – great for fashioning a calming ambiance at home, where most of us spent a lot of time working and playing in 2020.

What’s also great about Aegean Teal and other similar tones is that they can subtly add a delightful pop of color to your home décor. This means that rather than completely repainting a room, you can apply this color in strategic places, investing minimal time, money, effort, and risk to create a refreshing new look. And doesn’t that sound like the perfect start to 2021?

Here at Chris & Dick’s, our designers are always up to speed on the latest home decorating trends. Since we have deep expertise in advising our customers on how to achieve the perfect look in their kitchens and bathrooms using our cabinets and countertops, we have assembled the following tips on how to achieve a home refresh using a pop of this hot new color for 2021.

1. Find neutral areas that could use some brightening up.

If your kitchen cabinets are white, the floor is sandy brown, and the walls are cream, painting the backsplash or underside of an island Aegean Teal can really add some zing. As the light hits the room, eyes will be drawn to this relaxing color, which will make everyone who sees it feel comforted and calm.

The color will also make white cabinets and other neutrals appear to be even brighter, and the blue-green will accentuate any contrasting browns in the room, such as the flooring.

All it takes is a quick coat of paint and you’re in business. Pretty easy, right?

2. Incorporate a colored cabinet or a two-toned cabinet look

Add eye appeal to your cabinets via a pop of Aegean Teal using a multi-toned color palette.

You can achieve this effect by incorporating colored cabinets such as an Aegean Teal cabinet or by using two different tones for each cabinet: Aegean Teal and a neutral shade.

Try incorporating the color of the year in your next cabinet choice as pop of color cabinets have been increasingly popular in both kitchen and bathroom redesigns over the last several years.

Using this multi-hued approach can also draw attention exactly where you want it to play up the room’s best features.

3. Create an accent wall in a room that doesn’t get much light.

Accent walls are a simple way to refresh a room quickly and easily. Adding a wall of soft blue-green paint to a darker room can amp up the interest level of your home décor and gives it a whole new “light,” so to speak.

Choose a wall that’s immediately visible from the entrance to the room, and if that wall gets the most light in the room, all the better.

This concept works well with wall columns between windows as well as full walls to really make a room sing.

4. Change up your room accessories.

Paint isn’t the only way to use color. Pops of contrasting hues work great with light fixtures and switches, rugs and tablecloths, vases, bowls, and just about any other room accessory imaginable.

While you may not wish to convert all of your accessories to a blue-green hue, try just one or two at a time to assess the overall effect of this change on the room. You can always add more for greater impact.

Using 2021’s paint color of the year is the perfect way to add a pop of color to your living spaces. By brightening up neutral tones, creating accent walls, utilizing a painted cabinet in a new shade or two-toned cabinets, or changing up your room accessories with soft blue-green, you can easily keep up with decorating trends and infuse your home with fresh possibility.

Start Typing