Hey everyone! Ashley here again from Sugar & Cloth, and this time I’m talking all about how you can get your dream kitchen started by asking yourself some key design questions.
First, what is the look you are going for? When we were renovating our kitchen, I knew I wanted it to be bright and modern, while sticking to a budget. Luckily there are a lot of smart options out there that allow you to get your dream look without breaking the bank.
If you like chic, glossy white counters, like we do, a great way to get the look is to use Formica® laminate in White with a Gloss finish. One of the best things about laminate is that spills and messes are super easy to clean up… which means your beautiful white kitchen stays bright. And trust me, you’ll thank me for that later!
Another question to ask yourself is: Where do you want to spend and where do you want to splurge while still sticking to the budget plan? For this, consider how you want to spend the most time in the kitchen. If you are a foodie who loves to cook (hello, macarons!), consider putting more of your budget toward a set of really awesome appliances, like a professional range or the latest and greatest refrigerator. Or if entertaining guests is more your style, consider splurging on great lighting and a statement bar or dining area for gatherings.
Now you’re ready to make a smart choice on your counter tops. A great way to go about this is to think of how you’ll really use your counters. Marble is such a beautiful look, but let’s be honest – it’s not the easiest surface to live with (red wine stains, anyone?). I recently discovered that Formica® brand has a line called 180FX®, which is a collection of high resolution laminates that look just like real stone. This line is not only beautiful, but it’s also budget-friendly. We’re talking you can save up to half by choosing laminate over stone. For instance this Calacatta Marble design isn’t actually stone, it’s Formica laminate.
Since we use our kitchen every day, we had to consider the durability of our choices during our remodel. If you’ve got a lot of foot traffic through your new space, then you’ve got to make sure it’s going to hold up. Plus, kitchen renovations are no small task, so you want to choose finishes that are going to last! Formica® laminate is both budget-friendly and comes standard with EliteForm surfacing technology, which improves the scratch resistance and durability of the counters. Sounds perfect for having little ones in the kitchen too, doesn’t it?!
Once you have the foundation design elements of your space mapped out, you’ve officially made it to the best part…accessorizing! To help you get started, I’ve put together a budget-friendly mood board that features the Formica® 180fx® Calacatta Marble and White Gloss Laminate at the top, and moving down towards accessories with pops of color, my current favorite gold flatware, and even my favorite pastels for good measure.
gold trivet ($12.99), 5 piece gold flatware ($19.99), gold metal bowl ($12.99), marble and gold wall mounted shelf ($59.95), bell white flush mount lamp ($59.95), contact white dinnerware 3 piece set ($20), pink teapot ($12.95), teal teapot ($24.96), lizzy yellow teapot ($14.95), mini mint green bowls ($2.95), mini pale pink bowls ($2.95), mini salmon bowls ($2.95), marble hexagon serving board ($29.95), floating white shelf ($28), mint green retro toaster ($149), mint green smell fridge ($1,999.00), cream seem mixer ($495), delta bronze faucet ($344), polished marble penny tile ($22), gold drawer pull ($8.42)
Fast forward to the end of our remodel, and we absolutely love the final look, and that it feels custom and true to our style. And the main takeaway here is that it’s easy to get a look you’ll love while still being practical.
What are some of your favorite smart kitchen finds that you’ve discovered to date? We’d love to follow along on your renovation ideas, too!
This post is sponsored by Formica® Brand and SheKnows.
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