Is it your New Year's resolve to get a kitchen make-over? You definitely want your kitchen to function better for you, but you also want to pull all the elements together into a design that is pleasing visually. Read further for some ideas on how to do that.

Are you wanting to remodel your kitchen because your existing cabinetry no longer provides the storage or function you need? Or perhaps you want to update your kitchen with efficient appliances and fixtures to save on energy and water bills. Either way, you would also like your kitchen to be beautiful and feel inviting to your friends and family. This last aspect may feel very elusive, because you aren't sure how to pull it off. You want your kitchen to look fresh and original, but not to the extreme. How can you know when your kitchen design is too bland, or when it is too elaborate for current aesthetics?

Today's look is clean and simple, but definitely not cold and sterile. Perhaps you are like many other homeowners who are entertaining more at home these days, and you want spaces that feel welcoming. Soft matte finishes and artisan finishes, like bronze, copper, and brass give warmth to sinks and faucets. If your preference is for traditional style cabinetry, think minimal ornamentation and lots of white. Old World Tuscany features, such as high cathedral arches on cabinet doors and heavy corbels, are being traded for simpler elements like picture rail and painted bead board. Craftsman style cabinetry that emphasizes natural materials and honest craftsmanship, is currently the most popular look.

Clean and simple does not mean plain vanilla -- pay attention to the details that will give your kitchen personality. One idea is to vary the color of your cabinets in sections, mixing natural wood with paints or stains in delicious new colors, such as raspberry or grass green. Another possibility would be to juxtapose smooth and rough textures, matte and shiny finishes, or light and dark shades throughout your kitchen -- in your cabinetry, countertops, and flooring. Cream and chocolate brown is a current favorite, but black and white never goes out of style. The layered glazes that were so popular a few years ago are being replaced by texture and depth, such as visual brushstrokes and surfaces with an aged look. Just remember to exercise restraint, allowing enough space for a dramatic item to shine, rather than compete for attention.

If you are concerned about the long term, and you want to make trendy choices only in areas that can be changed easily and inexpensively at a later date, try selecting just one focal point to emphasize in your kitchen. It might be a kitchen window with a stunning view, an island, or a unique ventilation hood. By highlighting that area with an unusual color, a contrasting finish, uncommon hardware, or special lighting, you can make a distinctive design statement without a big expenditure. Choose neutral finishes for the larger, more permanent items.

For many of us, starting a new year means a new list of resolutions as well as taking some time to plan home projects for the coming year.

If your plan includes a remodeling project such as a new kitchen, bath, or basement, we are ready to help you plan out your dream remodel including design, product selection as well as the construction.

If your plan includes a punch list of items, we have the perfect solution. It's called "Done in a Day." Do you or your spouse have a list of items around the house that need attention, but, for a range of reasons, never seem to get completed? Whether it's cleaning the gutters, touching up some flaking paint or fixing a door that sticks -- every home requires ongoing maintenance.

At Louisville Handyman, we have a talented team of craftsmen, each with 20+ years' experience who excel at these repairs. The "Done in a Day" program allows you to budget and takes full advantage of the varied skills of our craftsmen. This program started with our regular customers who had a list of projects to be completed. We found that by working on multiple projects on the same trip, our customers saved money.

"Done in a Day" options include a half-day, full-day or multiple days, depending your particular needs. You provide a list of projects; we will complete as many as possible -- efficiently and professionally -- in the time purchased. If there are items we can't get to within the timeframe you have purchased, you can move them to the top of the list the next time we come out.

Give our office a call and/or email us your list and we will work with you on how much time to purchase.

Finally, a "Honey Do" list that gets done!

Joe French
President
Louisville Handyman, Inc.