Timeless Kitchens Vs. Trendy Kitchens

The Trendy VS. Timeless kitchens decision has always been one to consider before remodeling or building a new kitchen.

Trends are fun, they’re hip, they’re new and fresh! BUT… will you still like them 10 years from now. THAT is the question.

Timeless kitchens stand the test of time. We all know that our style and taste will change over the years, but how do we create a space (especially one this expensive) that will change with us?

What elements will allow a quick switch, and what’s here to stay? Those are the questions to ask yourself before you decide which type of kitchen design you’re going for.

How do you achieve the perfect balance of trendy or timeless kitchens? That’s what we all want to know. And luckily for you, that’s what I’m going to show you how to do; achieve a timeless look, and still find elements that are on trend!

What is a Trendy Kitchen?

A trendy kitchen is one that uses the design elements of the moment, whatever is in style right now. As we all know, trends come and go. That’s why crushed velvet and chocker necklaces are back in style.

The 90’s is upon us again! But before this year, no one would have been caught dead in them, as they were clearly out of fashion. Clothes are one thing. They are typically $100 or less, and can be switched up every single day. You’re not stuck with one piece you have to wear for the next 20 years, so it’s ok to be trendy when it comes to clothing.

What’s no ok? Being stuck with a kitchen you stop liking 5 years after you spent 10 grand.

Sometimes, trends CAN be timeless styles as well, but if you want truly timeless kitchens in your future, you’ll be selective about which ones you choose to incorporate.

What’s a good example of the moment? Geometric tile or metallic tile. They are super hot and very in, but do you really want bright metallics or trapezoids on your backsplash for the next decade. That’s a question to seriously consider. Unique shapes like arabesque tile can also be seen as a trendy choice. It used to be trendy about 30 years ago, and has recently come back, but what about the time in between? Don’t be caught there.

Bright or unique colors can often be trending, and while I’m a HUGE fan of color, I don’t suggest getting cabinets painted the color of the moment. Those will get real old, real quick. If it’s your favorite color and has been for a decade? GO FOR IT! I’m all about personal style, but just not wishy-washy trendy style.

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What should you not go trendy on? The big stuff, or the hard stuff to remove, in my opinion.Cabinets for one are the single most expensive part of your kitchen. You NEED to like them for a few decades. Don’t mind painting them? Then you have so many more options over the years! Countertops can be trendy if you get a funky color, so just make sure you love it if that’s the case. Backsplash is also hard to remove without damaging cabinets or countertops, so be weary of that as well.

Where can you go trendy? Lighting is a great place to start, as it can easily be replaced. Hardware, faucets, sinks or accent pieces are all great ways to stay on trend without compromising your timeless kitchens potential.

What are timeless kitchens?

Timeless kitchens are anything that won’t go out of style any time soon. They are styles that you’ll love for years and years to come, which is exactly what we should all be looking for in a remodel.

What makes timeless kitchen timeless?

Timeless Kitchens Use Neutral Colors.

Neutrals can often be trendy, but they never really go out of style. One color may take over for a few years, but you’ll typically not ever really get sick of it. White, grey, taupe, or even black are you top neutrals for cabinets. Stick with one of those and you’ll be very satisfied long term.

Stained wood cabinets are kind of trendy in my opinion. It would seem like they would be timeless, but stained cabinets (unless it’s a taupe stain/paint combo) are completely OUT right now, so I guess that answers that.

Subway Tile Is Always In Style

Subway tile is a great backsplash due to it’s longevity. It has been in styles for what seems to be a century. There are so many colors, sizes (3×6, 4×16, and 2×4) as well as materials such as glass, hand crafted porcelain and even metal, that you can ALWAYS find something you love. Most buyers don’t hate it, so it’s great for resell purposes as well. It goes with virtually any cabinet style.

Stone Countertops Survive The Test of Time

Stone countertops CAN be trendy, like we mentioned above, such as bright orange or blue quartz. It takes a special person to love them for decades. But overall, granite or quartz is a win. Especially whites, greys or tan combos. They go with a ton of colors, so even if you paint your cabinets, you won’t need new tops. That’s a win in my book! Wood and concrete can be trendy, and while you may like them for many years, stone is typically a safer bet. Add them in small areas like shown below.

Shaker is so Chic

One cabinet style that is always in is the shaker style. Clean lines are never out. Slab doors can be very modern, and some raised or flat panel can look outdated pretty easily. Shaker style cabinets are a wonderful style to always keep you on the right side of kitchen design.

What are your favorite timeless or trendy styles? Let us know in the comments below!

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Trendiest Tile Flooring Options For Your Home

tile flooring
Tile flooring has and always will be an excellent flooring option for a number of reasons. You’ve got like Wood Look, Ledge Stone, Polished Porcelain and Decorative. And those are just to name a few. Today, I’d like to discuss some of the hottest trends out there right now, explain their uniqueness, and dive into some really cool designs that up-and-coming in the industry. Let’s get it!

Wood-Look Tile Flooring

tile flooring
Wood-Look tile has seriously been all the rage for the past couple of years, and I’ll be honest, folks, it’s not going anywhere. It’s incredibly durable, easy to clean, much cheaper than regular hardwood flooring, and it’s extremely versatile. When you use this material with an interesting, unique pattern, such as the herringbone (pictures above), it just sets it off. Also, wood-look tile can go just about anywhere in the household, a feature that regular hardwood flooring merely wishes it had.
tile flooring
Also, it’s pretty environmental. According to our friends at Daltile, nearly 20 million trees are cut down each year. Wood-look tile certainly doesn’t contribute to that number, and in its usage, as a whole we can decrease that number drastically. Just a little food for thought in that regard.
 

Cement-Look Tile Flooring

tile flooring
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Cement? Seriously? Isn’t that used in, like, garages and industrial factories, stuff like that? The answer is…yes, sure….and sort of. But you’d be surprised by how incredibly nice this material looks when there’s a unique design attached to it. Also, large format tiles works best for this material, specifically 32×32.
tile flooring
 
They also come in a variety of colors, like you’ll see above. I just think it’s insane how what was once purely used for industrial/commercial reasons is now an extremely hot commodity in the residential area, as well. Excellent stuff.

Brick-Look Tile Flooring

tile flooring
 
Easily my favorite of three hottest trends rights now, hands down. It has the look and feel of actually brick. Plus, we know that porcelain is an excellent tile flooring option, so this is almost a tried and true material of sorts.
tile flooring
 
I guess what really wows me about this particular material as a flooring option is the historical vibes I get from it. It’s like I’m in 18th century England, and quite honestly, it makes me want to write for days. It’s unique, it’s durable, and pretty quirky. Also, it’s to be noted that there’s a particular material, aged brick, that has seemed to rise in popularity.
 
So, there you have it! Three extremely popular, extra unique tile flooring options that have continued to drop jaws across the nation. Another side note, one of the main reasons for the fame is because you’re getting the look and feel of the material it mimics without the high price of labor difficulty. It’s a win/win all around.


Builders Surplus is a full service renovation company with locations in Louisville, Kentucky, and Newport, Kentucky, which also serves Cincinnati, Ohio. We are the leading provider of granite countertops, quartz countertops and laminate countertops in Louisville, Newport, and Cincinnati. We specialize in interior design, kitchen design, bathroom remodel, building materials, and home improvement. Interior Design and measurements come as a free service to our clients. We sell building materials ranging in every price point, from unfinished kitchen cabinets to top of the line Wellborn cabinets. In addition to interior design, we also offer installation services. If you have any questions or would like to set up a free design consultation with one of our interior designers, we would encourage you to do so. We love sharing our knowledge with clients & potential home renovators. We write about interior design, home decor, decorating ideas, and home improvement. We hope you’ll check back in for our next article! Happy Renovation!
Written By: Chris Chamberlain