Six things you should know about hexagonal tile:

Hexagonal tiles experienced a rise in popularity during the 1940s. Many homeowners and designers took advantage of their unique shape and found new, creative patterns across floors, bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms and other spaces in the home. The 1940s were the decade of focusing on the arrangement of tile instead of the cut and shape of the tile. Before this decade, homeowners were drawn to bright, decorative tile designs inspired by Art Deco. As we see a rise in demand and popularity for this organic shape, we want to inform you on six things you should know about this six-sided uniquely shaped tile.

– Hexagon tiles offer a more flexible solution in a small or awkward shaped areas you are designing drawing your eye away from any imperfections.

mix material

– Hexagonal tiles fit into any design aesthetic from Industrial to modern to farmhouse all because they are available in such a wide range of colors, finishes, and styles. Use hexagon tiles in kitchens to create a feature backsplash with a fun and creative mosaic or go bold with black hexagon tiles in a sleek, minimalist master bathroom.

– Create a beautiful line that is more interesting and less harsh than a 90 degree but doesn’t stray away from the visual precision in your design.

– If you’re looking for a bigger statement adding larger hexagon tiles amplifies a space not only giving it a fresh enticing look but creates a more seamless appearance due to fewer grout lines.

– Hexagonal tile is the easiest tile to express your personality and separates your design from the rest.

– Hex tiles are practical, pretty, and relatively inexpensive, so they’re showing no real signs of waning in popularity anytime soon!

When it comes to using hexagon tiles, there’s no limit to the number of designs you can think up. These twists on traditions will stun and create any style you can desire. No matter which hexagon shapes appeal to you, hexagons are here to stay – so have fun creating the design of your dreams!

VIVA MAGENTA! How to use PANTONE’s 2023 Color of The Year In Your Next Design

What is the PANTONE color of the year?

According to PANTONE, “The Pantone Color Institute originally created the Pantone Color of the Year educational program in 1999 to engage the design community and color enthusiasts around the world in a conversation around color. We wanted to draw attention to the relationship between culture and color. We wanted to highlight to our audience how what is taking place in our global culture is expressed and reflected through the language of color. This thought process rings just as true today just as it did back in 1999. That’s one of the major reasons why, each year, so many around the world look forward to our Pantone Color of the Year announcement.”

So what exactly is Viva Magenta?

This year PANTONE says, “Viva Magenta 18-750, vibrates with vim and vigor. It is a shade rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength. Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, a pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative.” It’s all about power, and empowerment. It pulls a vibrant red that exudes pure joy and encourages self expression and experimentation.

PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta welcomes anyone and everyone with the same verve for life and rebellious spirit. It is a color that is audacious, full of wit and inclusive of all.

PANTONE INSTITUTE

So how can you use Viva Magenta in your next design?

Consider changing out some of your textiles, like pillows, or draperies to help bring some of that rebellious spirit to life! Rugs and accent pieces, art work and decor are all great ways to dabble on a budget, and without going all in!

Go bold with the appliance trends of the day and add a pop of color to your range to bring lively conversation to any gathering. There are so many ways to bring a kitchen to life, and we love this as a way to accessorize any neutral kitchen.

Or my personal favorite? Set off a traditional use of materials with the bold and audacious color! This subway tile would be boring and bland in any traditional neutral – but in Viva Magenta, it’s an expression of joy and warmth.

2023 Kitchen Design Trends – What we’re eyeing for your kitchen renovation next year!

With 2022 wrapping up before we know it, and the new year just around the bend, we are already gearing up to bring you the hottest trends for 2023! Our designers are excited to share these big ideas with you! From enhanced tech (YES! Tech is bleeding into the kitchen!), to bold colors, to multifunctional spaces, 2023 is all about maximizing convenience while improving comfort and letting your personal sale show through. Here are 6 trends we think you should keep your eye on this year.

Large Islands Made for Dining

Move over traditional dining rooms, this is the new way for gathering friends and family! We all know that the kitchen is the heart of the home and all of your guests congregate there anyway. Many homeowners are opting for larger than life islands! Some even some that double as their kitchen table to maximize their space and redefine what it looks to host big gatherings.

The Butler’s Pantry

Sometimes referred to the working pantry, or functional pantry, butler’s pantries are on the list and their popularity is expected to rise in 2023. They offer such a great space for extra food prep, a hidden coffee bar, and a great place to keep extra appliances so they’re off of your regular kitchen cabinets allowing a more clean and streamlined look.

The Slab Backsplash

The traditional white subway tile is being replaced with a sleek, large-scale slab in the same or complementary colors of continuous material. Marble is a hugely popular choice with calm veining and nearly endless color choices.

Organic Elements

Every year we see more and more about bringing the outdoors in, and 2023 is going to be no different. Lots of natural stone and warm wood cabinetry is one of the top requests right now. We love this because it pulls away from the all white, sterile feel of the basic kitchen and allows you to bring personality and character to your home making it a unique showpiece to share with family and friends.

Warm Colors are In

While the trade and true classic colors aren’t going anywhere, we expect kitchens to get a bit more colorful in the new year. Homeowners are choosing warmer tones and bright pops of color rather than the minimalist look that has been in for years past. Why not lean into this and create a space that becomes a conversation piece!?

Smart Technology

As tech becomes seamless in all the other aspects of our lives, it has begun to be a staple in the kitchen too! From smart touches faucets, to voice activated appliances, to refrigerators with camera view directly connected to your smart phone, the options really are endless!

Southern Inspiration

One of my favorite times of the year is fall – when family and friends all gather in the kitchen for fun stories, cooking, and togetherness. But when these events come up, I always find myself struggling to figure out how to cook for a crowd, and entertain at the same time without loosing my mind! If you know me, you know that I am not a good multitasker when talking is involved. Not to mention that around this time of year there are often just too many guests to all be able to sit down at the table for a formal dinner and I find myself with building anxiety over where everyone will sit. And with every dirty dish, instead of enjoying time with my friends, I am dreading the end of the party, not because I will miss my guests, but because I don’t want to deal with the cleanup when they’re gone. I was always thinking, “There has got to be a better way!”

May your home always be too small to hold all of your friends!

-Irish Blessing

This is where the design of a kitchen is important! I love and adore my big island, and it serves my family well for entertaining and everyday life. But it comes in even more handy with todays trends of charcuterie, and butter boards, and casual dining. Recently we were at a friends house in Charleston, South Carolina, where they took this idea a step further and I will never look at entertaining the same. As usual, all of the friends had gathered in the kitchen anxiously awaiting dinner to be served. All of the sudden, the host turns the corner from cooking out back with a boiling hot pot of the most delicious smell. He then promptly dumped said pot right onto the countertop (which I thought was covered in butcher paper to be trendy, but quickly realized was pure genius!) and simply said, “DINNER IS SERVED!” We all looked at each other with a bit of shock and amazement while his wife threw out bread on the table in the same manner, and handed around a roll of paper towels and a few small dishes of melted butter. The pile of food before us included pounds of steaming shrimp, crab legs, potatoes, onions, and corn on the cob. Once the first few brave soles dug in hands first, the rest of us followed suite. I stood there for a moment in amazement at everyone standing around this very well appointed island in the middle of this beautiful home, having dinner in the most fun and exciting way. No dishes, not utensils, no hassle. We laughed, we cried, we enjoyed each other’s company and we really learned more about each other that night than ever before. The lack of formality and stress made the night! And when it was time to clean up, we rolled up all the shells, and remaining scraps into the butcher paper, tossed it all into the trash, and THAT WAS IT! Neither the host, or the hostess was singled out of the rest of the evening stuck behind the sink of dirty dishes and they, too, enjoyed the end of the evening with their friends. It was amazing! And from then on, I’ve been looking at my kitchen island in a whole new way – always trying to figure out how else we can use it to maximize our time with our family and friends.

Save or Splurge: how to focus your budget when remodeling your kitchen

Renovating your kitchen is a huge investment so nearly everyone is budget conscious throughout the process. But, when it comes to picking options for your kitchen, it’s good to remember that getting rock-bottom  prices on every feature might not be money well spent. Often you’ll end up paying more in the long run if you choose low quality items that need to be fixed or replaced in a few years. The best use of your kitchen renovation budget is actually to know when to save, and when to splurge. Obviously this may be different for every family as needs and passions are different for every household, but we have some hard and fast advice to help keep you on track, and know when to hold back, and when to indulge. Generally, we recommend that decorative items that are low-use (lighting fixtures, backsplash tiles, decor and window treatments, etc.) can be a place to save some money. But, when it comes to the high traffic, high use items that will do the heavy lifting in your kitchen, you might think twice before going for the bargain-basement options. Here are some ideas for smart spending and how to help focus your budget on your upcoming kitchen renovation:

COUNTERTOPS

Spend: countertops
Save: backsplash

Countertops are one of the highest use areas of your home so it is important to choose wisely and pick a quality material. Stay away from things that are easily scuffed, scratched, stained, or melted. Formica, tile, or other alternatives do not offer the durability or quality that you’ll find in a hard surface option, and they can often harbor stains, mold, and germs that are impossible to clean. Worried about the cost of a material like granite, marble, or quartz? Do not despair – there are an infinite number of options in natural stone and quartz within a large range of pricing, so you won’t have to compromise style if you’re trying to work within a budget. And, these are the by far the most durable countertop options you can think of, so you won’t have to worry about replacing them any time soon. It is important however to be sure to choose a material that is fitting for your lifestyle and personal style – for example, granites are a natural material that come in a HUGE variety of colors and characteristics, and offer a more unique custom look, while quartz is a man-made option that will allow for a slightly more modern, streamlined look with less variety. Our design team are experts in almost every stone and every brand of quartz and can easily help guide you within your budget and lifestyle needs.

Your backsplash on the other hand is not going to to suffer anywhere near the abuse of your countertops, so it is a great area to save a bit of dough. With so many tile options out there, we are certain you can find something that meets your style desires but won’t break the bank. We work with most every vendor in the Denver area and can either sample options to you directly from our showroom, or can coordinate with each supplier to bring in options that we might not be able to house in store. Once your selection is made, our expert installation teams will get to work.

CABINETS

Spend: cabinets
Save: hardware

Cabinets are the component of your kitchen that will do most of the heavy lifting – literally and figuratively. They are of course one of the most used features of the kitchen but they also hold up your countertops and house all of your dishes, pots, pans, and other storage needs so they make a big impact on function. Cabinets can also be one of the most difficult things to replace, even above and beyond countertops and flooring and the design and layout of the kitchen can make or break the space. For all of these reasons, we recommend that this is a area not to skimp. We offer all of the popular cabinetry brands like Aristokraft, Kemper, Decora, and Kraftmaid Vantage, and even offer a fully custom option with Tischlerei. Yes, some of these brands can be found at your local box store but don’t be fooled. The box stores often offer these brands in a “light” package – meaning that they don’t offer all of the available options from each vendor or may have a limited catalogue to choose from meaning you may not get the design or features that are best for your family. With our team however, the sky is the limit – we offer full catalogues, all the custom features of each brand, and are uniquely trained and partnered with each of our vendors to help provide the very top-of-the-line experience while staying within any budget constraint you might be needing. And, of course, if we can’t fulfill your dreams in the traditional brands, we can always go fully custom if your heart desires.

Now, we understand that sometimes, nothing sets off your gorgeous cabinets and design like some fun, functional, design inspired hardware. However, we really think that this is somewhere that you can save – no need to go all in on bling. And, since these are usually easily replaceable options, you can always change them out as your style or the style of the times change.

LIGHTING

Spend: natural light
Save: lighting features

Lighting can be a make or break feature of an otherwise perfectly designed kitchen. But as mentioned before, you don’t need to go out and spend all of your money on an expensive lighting package, especially if you have access to natural light streaming in through windows or large doors. That’s where our design team can really shine and bring the light into your home. We believe that designing kitchens AROUND those natural features, helping to decide on replacement windows or doors as needed, and then helping you choose ideal places to include any additional lighting can make all the difference. We also pride ourselves in partnering with trusted local businesses to help you find unique lighting solutions with experts you can trust that you won’t find in the big box stores.

COOKING

Spend: range and oven
Save: small appliances

We like to be clear upfront that if you are not a very frequent or active cook, an oven is a great area where you might be able to save. Ovens are relatively simple and can last for a long time without much maintenance. A quality stove, however, even if it is not the top-end option, is where you don’t want to skimp. If you are a passionate, frequent cook, save room in your budget for a good-quality, long-lasting range with a good warranty and that promises to last for many years. We also recommend looking for an appliance that is easy to maintain AND replace parts for.

For small appliances (i.e. coffee makers, toaster ovens, and microwaves etc.), you might be tempted to go get high-quality, gourmet items, but these are actually great features to save on. They’re all available in relatively good quality, and incredibly cheaply these days, and far easier to replace than a range or oven would be.

FOOD STORAGE

Spend: shelving
Save: refrigerator

Believe it or not, even if you have a large family, and do lots of cooking, you can usually find a way to save on a refrigerator. With so many brands and options available, you can easily fulfill your functional needs, without breaking the bank.

When it comes to shelving and pantry however, this falls back to the category of cabinetry. You’ll want to be sure to choose a sturdy, quality, long-lasting options. And even though it might not be a huge portion of your overall cabinetry budget, dry food storage that’s accessible, durable, and stylish, is a great small investment to make for the overall function of your kitchen.

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Quality investments aren’t necessarily a big splurge, but choosing to spend more for a longer-lasting, more reliable, and high-quality product will, in many cases, be a much smarter use of your precious kitchen renovation dollars.

2018 Kitchen Design Trends: it’s all about making a statement

Goodbye grey and white. Hello statement pieces! With the new year in swing, what better time to start thinking of ways to renovate, refresh, and organize your life. And, where better to start than the heart of your home – your kitchen! These 5 design trends are sure to inspire you to be a better and brighter you – or at least have a better and brighter kitchen in 2018.

1

Blue and Green Cabinets

According to Stephanie Pierce, director of design & trends at MasterBrand Cabinets, “Blues and greens emerged as ‘go-to’ color choices for cabinetry in 2017. They are being mixed with other colors, complementing wood stains or even being used as the dominant color alone”.

Blue and greens made a splash everywhere from high-end design firms to almost every kitchen show on the DIY and HGTV networks, and we think this trend is here to stay. These colors offer a way to bring a unique but classic element to your home that will capture your guests attention and offer a timeless complement to all of your interior designs through the years.

We are a proud distributor of MasterBrand Cabinets, carrying the FULL lines of Aristokraft, Kemper, and Decora – not just the limited lines you’ll find at the box store showrooms. We also offer fully customizable lines of Kraftmaid and Tischlerei cabinetry and our team knows all of the design trends and can help customize your space to meet your kitchen goals that will last for years to come.

2

The Color of the Year Is….. Purple!

Ultra Violet to be exact. Pantone announced that the 2018 color of the year is Ultra Violet, stating that the vibrant choice is “complex and contemplative” and that “Ultra Violet suggests the mysteries of the cosmos, the intrigue of what lies ahead, and the discoveries beyond where we are now. The vast and limitless night sky is symbolic of what is possible and continues to inspire the desire to pursue a world beyond our own”.  Pantone, which clams to be “the global color authority,” began announcing and naming a “Color of the Year” starting   in the new millennium, finding trending colors from all over the world, in everything from cosmetics to cars.

Well known, American-made, and luxury quartz supplier Cambria even announced a partnership with the 2018 NFC North Division champion Minnesota Vikings in 2017, fueling “Purple Pride” by offering created 11 bold, custom Minnesota Vikings-inspired quartz designs, many featuring rich purple tones in unique marbling and veining. The custom designs are installed in premium clubs and suites, including The Medtronic Club, Mystic Lake’s Club Purple and Delta Sky360 Club. With their  PRINCETOWN™ quartz, one of the striking Viking designs, you can even bring some of the “Minnesota Mirale” into your home! Weather it be Ultra Violet purple quartz from Cambria, or a more neutral design choice, our team is standing by and able to show you almost any color of quartz you can dream of from all of the leading brands.

3

Make a Statement

Move over white quartz – the 2018 renovation year is all about making a statement, and we think this is a trend that will continue for years to come. One way to get this done is to make your kitchen island a conversation starter, a piece of art, and a way to add drama and style to your new space. Whether it be a stunning blue agate counter top like this stunning accent island, or a waterfall granite edge with dramatic contrasting veining, find a piece that really speaks to you and bring some character into your home with this easy step.

Because natural stone is so unique, it is impossible to keep true, up-to-date samples of what’s available, in our showroom.  But not to worry! Ware partnered with all of the local stone yards, and can easily help guide you on your search for the piece that speaks to you. Just swing by our office for a list of our partners, and we’ll offer some guidance on how to best search their inventories, get your actual piece picked out, held and delivered to our fabrication facility, and eventually installed in your dream kitchen.

4

Dark Countertops

If you can’t get on board with the high-drama statement pieces, maybe a more subtle and classic approach is more your style. Luckily the 2018 trend of dark countertops is a classic look that not only has stood the test of time, we know it’ll continue to be a popular option for years to come. And, to add a touch of flair, most the darker natural materials can also be honed, or leathered on the top surface or chiseled on the edge for  a way to add some different texture and uniqueness to your project.

5

Mix and Match Finishes

According to Sue Wadden, the director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams, this year, it’s all about mixing and matching color. And, this is nothing new. The days of a monochromatic kitchen design are a distant past and our clients love mixing and matching to make a boring kitchen something to talk about.

Using multiple colors will continue to be a popular trend this year – from darker lower, and lighter upper cabinets to contrasting colored islands, we want to help you make your new kitchen something to talk about. Luckily, the style is the limit with our fully customizable cabinetry lines. We can achieve this look with contrasting stains, or multiple paint choices, or a combination of both. Decora by MasterBrand Cabinets, will even allow you to choose a custom color from ANY one of the Sherwin-Williams paint colors, or even match to your favorite throw pillow… if you can dream it, we can do it!