Picking out kitchen cabinet hardware as your renovation wraps up is like getting the dessert menu at the end of a meal. It’s a sweet way to end things. Still, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the choices before you. Latches, handles, knobs, or pulls? Matte black, antique brass, or polished nickel? Tiny and seamless or oversize? Understanding the ins and outs of each is the key to making a confident decision.

“Sizing and function are the two most important factors when considering what cabinet hardware is best,” says Kimberlee Gorsline, founder and principal designer of Kimberlee Marie Interiors. So let’s begin with the most common hardware on kitchen cupboards: knobs and pulls. Their end goal is really the same—to give you access to the stuff that’s on the other side—but the two options serve a space differently. So here’s everything to know about knobs versus pulls, upper cabinets versus lower cabinets, and getting the scale right in your space. Plus we share 16 options to shop for your own.

When should I use knobs on kitchen cabinets?

The general rule of thumb is that knobs are best for cabinet doors, though you can certainly break said rule. “We might do a single knob on a smaller drawer,” says Gorsline. It doesn’t matter what shape you go with (they come in round, square, oblong, octagonal—you name it), what’s important is location; place them 2 1/2 or 3 inches from the corner of the door. 

When should I use pulls on kitchen cabinets?

Pulls offer a bit more flexibility because you can put them on both drawers and doors. “Overall I think that pulls are easier to grasp than knobs,” adds Michelle Lisac, founder and principal designer of Michelle Lisac Interior Design. That’s especially nice if your cabinet fronts are on the larger end and you need a bit more leverage to open them. 

What size should my knobs and pulls be?

Start by accounting for the length of your cabinets. For smaller nooks, like spice pull-outs or slim doors that hide cutting boards, go with knobs that are 1 inch in diameter or smaller. Otherwise, knobs that are between 1 ¼ and 1 ⅜ inches will suffice. That said, there are benefits to supersizing your knobs. Not only does it make them easier to grab, but the visual effect (especially if they’re painted the same color as your cabinet doors) is showstopping. 

Pulls are a bit trickier to get right. “If you have a long drawer, you will need a long pull to support the weight of pulling out the drawer,” explains Gorsline. To simplify your shop, consider picking one size and using them throughout your cabinetry. A 3¾-inch distance between the screw holes looks nice on most cabinets and is large enough to grip comfortably. 

What finish should I choose?

Let your cupboard color and style guide your hardware material. Check out a few of our favorite pairings, including iron on beadboard fronts, glass against a high-gloss finish, and wood painted to match vibrant doors. But don’t forget about satin and polished nickel, chrome, matte black, and copper. “In some scenarios, hardware is best applied like jewelry, and in others, you want it to be understated,” says Caitlin Murray, founder and creative director of Black Lacquer Design, who is obsessed with the former lately (she’s into organic shapes that look sculptural, like in this Bel Air kitchen). 

“I’m currently loving an unlacquered brass, but I also like pulls with a combination of either textures or finishes, like Emtek’s knurled bars,” says Lisac. Style aside, her most important rule is to invest in quality. After all, “these are items that you are literally going to be touching every day,” she points out.

Can I mix knobs and pulls in the same kitchen?  

There are two ways to go about incorporating knobs and pulls seamlessly in one kitchen. The first route is to put knobs on all the upper cabinets and pulls on all the lower cabinets for visual balance. The second option is to put knobs on all the doors and pulls on all the drawers, prioritizing function. But who said you can’t throw out the rule book entirely? Shea McGee mixed knobs, latches, thin pulls, and cup pulls in her kitchen, above—and thanks to the fact that they’re all the same brass finish, it totally works. Open sesame.

Cabinet Knobs We Love

Newberg Knob, Schoolhouse ($12 was $14)

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Emtek Jasper 2-Inch Bar Cabinet Knob, Amazon ($10)

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Amerock 1-3/8 inch Cabinet Knob, Champagne Bronze, Amazon ($5 was $6)

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Sumner Street Home Hardware Aspen 1-1/16 inch Egg Cabinet Knob, The Home Depot ($7)

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Bill Knob, 40 mm, Pretty Pegs ($8)

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Round Knob, H&M Home ($10)

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Linear Furniture Knob, Set of 2, Buster & Punch ($40)

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Octagon Glass Cabinet Knob, Rejuvenation ($18)

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Cabinet Pulls We Love

Amerock Cabinet Cup Pull, Amazon ($8 was $12)

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Ansel 12-inch Drawer Pull, Rejuvenation ($72)

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4-Inch Matte Black Mid-Century Pull, West Elm ($14)

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4-Inch Acrylic Cabinet Pull, Ballard Designs ($23)

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Belfast Solid Brass 3-Inch Cabinet Pull, Signature Hardware ($17)

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Combined Semicircle Handle, Medium, Etsy ($3 was $4)

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Wrought Iron 3-Inch Cabinet Pull, Etsy ($11 was $12)

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Barrington 4-Inch Edge Pull, Rejuvenation ($28)

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The post When to Use Kitchen Cabinet Knobs vs. Pulls, and More Hardware Questions Answered appeared first on domino.

Robby and Lauren Simon have a saying: “When you’re home, you’re with your family. And when you’re with your family, you’re home.” The phrase was one the couple told themselves on repeat during their two-year-long kitchen renovation. “It’s one of those made-up, Olive Garden sayings, but it’s essentially like, things don’t have to be perfect. It just has to be home,” says Robby. 

When the Simons bought their split-level home in Atlanta in February 2020, it was clear the kitchen hadn’t been touched since the 1980s. The couple focused on the things that could easily be changed with a little bit of elbow grease (the dark wood cabinets and fluorescent light box) and learned to live with the things that couldn’t, like the galley layout and travertine tiled floors. “In a dream world I would have put in Fireclay tile, but this isn’t our forever home,” notes Lauren. While she acted as project manager during the remodel, Robby took on the role of woodworker and even turned his cabinet- and furniture-making hobby into a full-fledged side hustle (by day, he works at Mailchimp; by night he runs Play.room). 

In the end, the pair estimates they spent less than $10,000 on the transformation. Ahead, they share the updates that, at the very least, made it feel like home. 

Leave Your IKEA Cabinets As Is 

The Simons measured the existing lower cabinetry to a T and then ventured to their local IKEA to put an order in for the black Kungsbacka cupboards, with no intentions to swap out the hardware or hack the door fronts. With the help of their handy friend, Mike, they cut the butcher block countertops (also IKEA) down to size. “Lauren built every one of those cabinets—she could be a TaskRabbit,” Robby says with a laugh. Even though they were a major cost saver, they’ve held up nicely considering they are constantly being opened and touched by their 6-year-old son and 6-month-old daughter. 

Make the Most Out of a Bad Vent Situation

While Robby now sells cool credenzas and consoles on his brand’s site, the first cabinet he ever made sits above the vent hood. He created the unit solely out of necessity after learning that they had to replace the old microwave–slash–range hood, which was apparently venting inside the house. Their new ductless hood needed something to attach to. “I thought, if I’m going to do it, I might as well make it look cool,” he says. The piece is made out of a combination of walnut-veneer plywood and solid walnut. 

Paint It Twice If It Doesn’t Look Nice

Lauren also shares Robby’s let’s-just-go-for-it attitude. One day, when he was out of the house, she decided to remove the doorframe and then posed the idea of turning it into an arch once he got home. “He said, you just made so much more work for me. And I was like, we have to do it now—we don’t have a door,” she says slyly. When it came to painting the walls in the space, their first instinct was green, so they went for it. “But we could tell it wasn’t right,” she says. Lauren, the designated painter at that point, shifted gears to a soft peachy pink, and later on they swapped the light box for a PH5 pendant lamp that perfectly matched the color. 

Ask the Hardware Store for Help

The dining nook bench was another first for Robby—and he didn’t even own the proper saw for it at the time. Instead he went to Home Depot and had them cut down pieces of plywood and 2-by-4s to his specifications and then screwed it together at home. “Our long-term plan is to make a cushion for it,” he says.

Type Your Wildest Dreams Into the Search Bar

When it comes to finding cool thrifted pieces, Robby says Lauren has all the luck. “She will go into a Goodwill and literally find a Mario Bellini couch,” he says with a laugh. But his turn came when he decided to type “vintage snake handles” into Google on a whim and found exactly what he was looking for on Etsy. The cobra pulls, which now adorn the pantry, are Justina Blakeney–approved. Lauren posted a photo of the cabinet on Instagram and tagged the designer in it, crediting her for the inspiration—and Blakeney shared it. “I was like, I’ve made it,” says Lauren.

Get the Appliances That Make Life Easier

Toward the end of the reno, the Simons splurged big: all new appliances. “The fridge that was there before stuck out into the hallway. It was so deep,” recalls Robby. The challenge wasn’t landing on what brand to buy (they loved LG’s streamlined look and reasonable price point) but rather getting the appliances into the house. The oven and refrigerator were at least 300 pounds and required the help of five other people. 

Once they were in the kitchen, Robby handled all the hookups (his friend told him about Plumber’s Putty, a waterproof seal that turned out to be necessary for installing the oven). “The stove is crazy…you knock on it and a light turns on,” says Robby, “and the fridge makes regular ice, crushed ice, and whiskey balls.” After a two-year reno, a chilled cocktail is a welcome reward. 

The post Pink Walls and Black IKEA Cabinets Helped This Couple Love Their Galley Kitchen appeared first on domino.

Modern farmhouse kitchens have become so popular that they’re probably the first thing you picture when you think of any kitchen these days. And it’s clear that subway tile backsplashes and wrought-iron pendant lights aren’t going anywhere anytime soon: The New York Times recently dubbed the modern farmhouse “the millennial answer to the baby boomer McMansion” and RubyHome Luxury Real Estate uncovered that it is the biggest decorating trend on Instagram with more than 4.8 million posts. We aren’t here to argue the style’s longevity, but we will present a different point of view—one that doesn’t involve word art and reclaimed-wood everything. Ahead, we’ve rounded up 13 modern farmhouse kitchens that exude the rustic, warm vibe we all appear to be after without getting into kitschy territory. 

The Upcycled Modern Farmhouse Kitchen 

In Leanne Ford’s former Pacific Palisades home, the designer opted for traditional kitchen cabinets by Lauren Liess & Co. for Unique Kitchens and Baths almost everywhere except underneath the sink. For that spot, she tasked her friend Matthew Deters of Deter Fabrik to cut apart her favorite table and turn it into a cupboard front. “Repurposing something well loved offers that extra bit of character,” she says. 

The High-Contrast Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

Fashion stylist to the stars Dani Michelle was largely inspired by Ford’s work when she remodeled her Los Angeles kitchen. (Fun fact: the designer actually helped her with some of the reno.) So she embraced Ford’s love of black and white by combining white Caesarstone and leathered soapstone for a high-contrast moment. 

The British Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

DeVol is the ultimate authority on authentic farmhouse and country kitchens. One thing you’ll almost always find in the brand’s spaces? An island that looks like a piece of furniture. Peep how the end of this one has legs, open shelves, and a copper countertop that matches the vent hood. 

The Mexican Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

When designer Alex Boudreau and her family are at their Todos Santos, Mexico, home, their days begin and end in the kitchen. All their goodies from the market get sprawled out on the concrete countertops and the open shelving is stocked with vintage crockery. But to ensure there was a spot to hide away baby bottles and other unsightly dishes, Boudreau tacked on a surprise: a single rosa morada wood cupboard to the right of the window.

The Glam Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

There was only a cow barn, silo, chicken coop, and pond on Virginia Smith and Patrick Robinson’s New York property when they bought it in 2003. But where there were once stables, there is now an eat-in kitchen complete with a chandelier and Scandinavian-style slingback chairs by Zaha Hadid. 

The Small Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

Having spent seven years in a city railroad apartment surrounded by tchotchkes, writer and florist Lisa Przystup and her husband, Jonathan, knew they wanted to keep their upstate home minimal. In the kitchen, every pot and cutting board has a hook, and a simple sheet of brass serves as the backsplash to the cooktop.

The Open-Layout Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

Kelsey Duda may have built her Elk Rapids, Michigan, home from scratch, but you’d never say it lacks character. After the drywall was installed, she warmed up the interior with Color Atelier’s limewash paint and worked with local maker Wolf Wood Co. to bring a paneled white oak island to life that she can admire from the comfort of her sofa.   

The Scrappy Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

Maryline Damour skipped Home Depot when shopping for her cabinetry and went right to Big Reuse in Brooklyn. Given the deeply discounted cupboards were secondhand, Damour had to reconfigure the boxes in a way that made sense for the room’s U-shaped layout, like stacking the ones with glass fronts. Then, once everything was in place, she painted everything in Benjamin Moore’s Stonington Gray.

The Rustic Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

Jenni Kayne bid adieu to classic subway tile and embraced a painted brick backsplash in her Lake Tahoe home. For a double dose of texture, she let the reclaimed lumber you usually see as an accent take center stage as cabinet fronts.

The Galley Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

By taking advantage of (almost) every inch of available wall space, Emily Bowser, a contributor at Emily Henderson Design, was able to fit even her extensive cutting board collection in her narrow kitchen. Her storage secrets? A floating shelving unit framed in metal from Etsy vendor Iron Abode and a similarly industrial wine bottle rack above a skinny stretch of extra cabinets.

The Squared-Away Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

Analisse Taft-Gersten’s husband, James, works in the hospitality industry, so he naturally wasn’t keen on replicating the restaurant-grade subway tile look at home. By simply going with extra-large handmade squares, they kept it classic while giving the traditional kitchen backsplash a second life.

The Breezy Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

Raffia-wrapped lights, landscape paintings, and a vintage runner bring beach vibes to Montreal-based interior designer Luke Havekes’s farmhouse. The original terracotta floor tile (which he simply buffed out) also adds to the country space’s coastal energy. 

The Modern Farmhouse Kitchen That’s Actually Really Old

Alastair Coomer and David Breen’s Suffolk, England, home started out as a forgotten 17th-century barn, but it did have two things going for it: the ceiling beams (one of which now slices through the vent hood) and original brick. In the end, with the help of DeVol’s design team, they proved that as long as everything is a natural material and the palette is cohesive, you can pull off an aesthetic mishmash.

The post 13 Modern Farmhouse Kitchens Where Table-Like Islands and Pot Racks Rule appeared first on domino.

Renovations are pricey—those involving the heart of the home, even more so: According to the Real Remodeling Costs calculator on Houzz, the average cost of a kitchen remodel rings in anywhere from $13,700 to a whopping $44,100. So when you find little shortcuts that can save a few bucks, it’s best to go ahead and take them. Maybe it’s peel-and-stick tile for the backsplash you’ve always wanted or heading to a certain Swedish retailer for your new cupboards. The problem is, IKEA cabinet doors aren’t always the most stylish…and that’s where these companies come in. 

The brand’s cult following has spawned an entire generation of companies aimed at dressing up pared-back basics. You can get slipcovers for your Söderhamn sectional and legs for your Besta—though we’re most interested in the zhuzhed-up fronts that will transform the most basic of cabinetry. If you’re planning an upgrade involving IKEA cabinet doors—even if it’s not for a few months—these makers will convince you to ditch the sledgehammer. 

Plykea

Pairs best with: The Metod system. 

The price point: It varies but is estimated at $877 for a small kitchen to $6,153 for a large kitchen. 

What it’s known for: If a colorful dinnerware collection is as bold as you’re willing to go, these are the fronts for you. Plykea offers three different materials—each customizable in a number of hues—but is best known for its classic Scandi style: simple, timeless, and categorically minimalist. They’re best served as is, sans decorative pulls or knobs. 

Birch Ply Doors, Plykea

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Formica Faced Ply Doors, Plykea

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Kokeena

Pairs best with: The Sektion and Godmorgon systems.   

The price point: Since everything is tailor-made to your space, you’ll have to reach out for a custom quote. 

What it’s known for: Traditional but make it eco-friendly: The Portland, Oregon–based brand is so committed to sustainability that it’s one of the core values of the company. (It uses low- to zero-VOC paints and varnishes and relies on recycled plant fibers to round out its materials.) This means you can’t go wrong with any of the polished wood doors, but don’t sleep on the Townsend Home collection if you’re craving a deeper dose of color. 

Sage Cabinet, Kokeena

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Moss Cabinet, Kokeena

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Reform

Pairs best with: All IKEA kitchen systems. 

The price point: Individual pieces range from $76 for drawers to $1,504 for side covers. 

What it’s known for: The eccentric rich aunt of the kitchen cabinet family: There are luxe finishes, yes, but they’re paired with funkier features like color-blocked fronts and little round handles. This is because of the numerous architects and designers Reform routinely collaborates with, from Norm Architects to Cecilie Manz; it’s high-end on a budget. 

Frame Cabinet Fronts, Reform

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Basis Cabinet Fronts, Reform

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Superfront

Pairs best with: The Metod system. 

The price point: Expect to shell out between $39 for a tiny drawer and $293 for a larger cupboard. 

What it’s known for: This collection is all about prints. Pick between fish scales, geometric shapes, and stripes to add a bit of texture in place of cookie-cutter IKEA cabinet doors—or mix and match your lowers and uppers for some real pattern play. 

Geometric Fronts, Superfront

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Fields Fronts, Superfront

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Husk

Pairs best with: The Metod system. 

The price point: Husk quotes by kitchen not individual items—it calculates between $1,704 for a small space and $6,344 for bigger sizes. 

What it’s known for: If you suffer from serious shopping indecision, start here. There is exactly one front style, making for the ultimate no-fuss design. But that doesn’t mean the products are boring: You’ll have your choice of 19 colors, going from rich jewel tones to soft neutrals; just don’t overthink the details. 

Giallo Kashmir, Husk

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Nero Ingo, Husk

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Semihandmade

Pairs best with: The Sektion and now-discontinued Akurum systems. 

The price point: From $12 to $190, depending on the size and style. 

What it’s known for: The Instagram-famous kitchens you see in all your favorite design stars’ homes. Semihandmade has teamed up with both Sarah Sherman Samuel and Chris Loves Julia for different lines, culminating in an offering that has those classic vibes—e.g., natural-colored wood and Shaker silhouettes—but also includes a few more playful options.  

SSS Desert Grey Beaded, Semihandmade

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Supermatte Night Sky Shaker, Semihandmade

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Holte

Pairs best with: The Metod system. 

The price point: Starting at around $1,431 and topping out at $6,450. 

What it’s known for: For anyone looking for something punchier, don’t sleep on Holte’s vivid orange fronts and half-moon–shaped steel pulls (the cobalt shade is also a favorite). There are 120 total colors and six different handles, so if you’re on the hunt for something truly bespoke, you’ll find it in the mix. 

Cobalt HPL Front, Holte

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Mint HPL Front, Holte

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The post 7 Brands to Shop for Your IKEA Cabinet Doors Upgrade appeared first on domino.

When New Zealand–based architect Raimana Jones’s clients told him their Titirangi home would (hopefully) be their forever one, a list of boxes to tick followed—particularly for the 156-square-foot kitchen. At the top was an open floor plan that would allow them to see into the living room (it was previously closed off by a wall of pea green melamine cabinets from the 1990s) and an extra-long peninsula with room for food prep and seating. Some more unusual requests followed: a dedicated area for pasta making, a built-in sliding cutting board, and a hidden compost bin.

The first stipulation required some coordination with an engineer and a steel fabrication company to install l-beams where the old wall used to be, which everyone was nervous wouldn’t fit inside the house. Luckily they came in separate parts so they could be welded on-site as the frame for the peninsula, the custom pivot lights by Tom Lopes, and a spice rack. Jones, who has always been fascinated by utilitarian interiors, notes he frequently referenced the Frankfurt kitchen by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky while working on this project with his business partner at Atelier Jones, Mathilde Polmard. “It was built for the efficiency of tasks in mind, and I appreciate the integration of small elements such as built-in aluminum pouring bins for storing flour and spices,” he says. Here are four hardworking details we never knew we needed in a kitchen until now.

A Suspended Spice Station

Jones’s favorite storage solution is hands down the magnetic spice jars that attach to a wood block above the peninsula (on the other side, the cubby provides open shelving). “I think it is always nice when spices are visible in a kitchen,” he says. “Being exposed to their colors and aromas can give you inspiration.”

Jones and his team tested the height of the box on-site before installing it to ensure it wouldn’t cut off the view of anyone sitting in the adjacent lounge area but would still be easy to reach—they landed on 6 feet. And the bar hung beneath it? That’s a place for homeowners a spot to hang dried herbs. 

A Cutting Board That Moves

One of the later additions to the kitchen was the built-in cutting board that can be slid from one end of the stainless steel surface peninsula to the other. The permanent piece was crafted from leftover wood from the butcher block countertop. For a seamless look when it’s in its corner resting spot, the board slopes down on one side.

A Proper Place for Pasta Night

The designated pasta-making area is just to the left of the sink. After whipping together the dough on the stainless steel peninsula, the owners roll everything over to the wood surface, where an open cavity underneath the counter allows them to securely clamp down a pasta maker. On the right-hand side of the basin? Trash and compost bins. Although you’d almost never know it thanks to a removable lid integrated in the countertop.

Cupboards That Are Durable and Quiet

The home’s location in the western part of Auckland served as the major inspiration for both styles of cabinetry. Some of the cupboards are crafted out of oiled, recycled rimu, a wood native to New Zealand that is most commonly used for cutting and cheese boards. “One of the main reasons we chose rimu is its ability to match the original flooring of the house,” adds Jones. (It’s also incredibly strong and resistant to rot.) The powder-coated green steel drawers, on the other hand, are a nod to Titirangi’s lush landscape. Jones custom-designed everything with soft closing drawers. We wouldn’t want a slam to disturb those peaceful pasta-making sessions.

The post This Forever Kitchen’s Structural Steel Beams Serve a Second Purpose: Spice Storage appeared first on domino.

We like to think whoever came up with the expression green with envy was talking about kitchen cabinets. Whether it’s a rich shade of emerald, a warm sage, or a restful moss, the color instantly brings zen vibes to a bustling room. 

Even if you already have some go-to shades in mind, it can get a little overwhelming when the time comes to head out to the hardware store. To help, we rounded up our all-time favorite green kitchen cabinets, because a healthy dose of inspiration (and a little jealousy) might be just the kick you need to get started.

The Green Kitchen With Curve Appeal

There was a bit of charm missing from vintage seller Melissa Cattaneo Fontaine’s Colonial in the Atlanta suburbs, but with some reimagining of the cabinets and island, the transformation began. It started with custom door fronts and a lick of paint, then, to match her classic sensibilities, she added a scalloped hood over the range—but in brass to give it a bold finish. 

The Color-Theory Green Kitchen

This London-based couple always knew they wanted to go with green kitchen cabinets, though they were originally leaning into a paler, yellowish laminate. When Pluck founder George Glaiser came on board, he nudged them toward a shade with gray undertones. He paired it with peachy pink skirting for a tried-and-true contrast. “They sit on opposite ends of the color wheel,” says Glaiser. “That’s why the combination works.”

The Green Kitchen That Plays Hide-and-Seek

From a certain angle, you wouldn’t even know this home in the U.K. had pea-colored cabinetry. The shade, from John Lewis of Hungerford‘s Shaker-style line, peeks out from the waterfall edges of these marble counters.

The Green Kitchen Where Old Meets New

It’s a no-brainer why this shade made it into Benjamin Moore’s historic color collection. The grayish hue is timeless and traditional, something you’d find in the English countryside. For an updated twist, Studio McGee paired the color with matte black hardware. 

The Green Kitchen With a Dramatic Duo

The only thing sleeker than these superdark cabinets is a soapstone countertop. Jaclyn Peters pulled off the winning combo on a budget in this Winnipeg, Canada, home by opting for a 6-inch backsplash. 

The Green Kitchen With Tight Corners

Your small space can handle a rich hue—the key is practicing restraint. First-time homeowner Brynn Harlock maintained a bright and airy vibe by painting her uppers white and the lower ones mossy.

The Shaker-Style Green Kitchen

Stepping away from her go-to blues, Emily Henderson went with a sophisticated option with lots of gray undertones from Sherwin-Williams in this Portland, Oregon, house. To amp up the character, the designer splurged on inset Shaker-style cabinets that cost around $25,000 to build and install. 

The Art Deco–Inspired Green Kitchen

Jessica Brigham was on a mission to restore her kitchen’s 1930s spunk as part of the One Room Challenge. Jewel-tone cabinets and glitzy globe light fixtures accomplish just that.

The Teeny-Tiny Green Kitchen

Dabito’s guesthouse kitchenette features just four 24-inch Shaker cabinets from Overstock (the same place he scored the Moroccan cement tile). He painted them with Behr’s Fig Tree in a satin finish, then added pink walls and a graphic backsplash to turn what would otherwise be considered a serious color into a fun statement.

The Green Kitchen That’s Minty Fresh

There’s nothing childish about this candy-colored space. Designer Lauren Bug chose the playful hue when she realized green kitchen cabinets suited the walnut-wood floors better than the pale blue she had originally been considering.

The Farmhouse Green Kitchen 

The addition of glass doors can elevate standard millwork to star status. Jaclyn Peters mastered the new-school rustic look with the addition of a vintage rug and industrial drawer pulls. 

The British Green Kitchen

Designer Laura Stephens went old school in this London galley kitchen by swathing the cupboards in a rich mustardy shade and covering the walls in tongue-and-groove paneling that can withstand dampness and changes in temperature.

The ’70s Green Kitchen

Tara Marshall and Meghan Bannon of Fort Architecture leaned into this maple leaf–shaped Canada home’s retro feel. They sourced teak for the integrated paneled refrigerator and upper shelving to blend with the existing wood throughout the house, and painted the new lowers an olive hue that “feels contemporary but nostalgic at the same time.”

The Green Kitchen That’s a Bit Beige

After replacing this space’s stylized cabinet fronts with slab doors, designer Natalie Myers painted everything Berkshire Beige by Benjamin Moore, a pale green-gray that skews sage depending on the time of day.

The Green Kitchen That’s Almost Yellow 

Lourdes Hernández’s pastel cabinets read retro— not nursery—next to her Smeg refrigerator and multitone ceramic pendant lamps. So what are you waiting for? You’ve got the green light.

The post 15 Green Kitchen Cabinets That Aren’t All Sage appeared first on domino.

Who says you have to completely demo your kitchen (not to mention, your budget) to make it yours? In our new series, The No-Reno Kitchen, we’re highlighting total transformations that prove the power of paint, fixtures, and a little elbow grease.

“Necessity breeds creativity,” says Katie Sarokhanian, summing up her kitchen renovation for the One Room Challenge. The Dallas-based designer DIYed practically everything, from the painted refrigerator to the scalloped trim. Inspired by the Palladian terrazzo floors that are ubiquitous in Italy, the mosaic backsplash was no exception. The whole thing, mortar and all, came to a total of $150. Her secret? The 14-by-6-foot surface is swathed in marble remnants left over from past design projects, as well as broken chunks Sarokhanian salvaged from Facebook Marketplace and a local tile store. “I asked for anything that had a crack in it,” she says. 

A central arch consisting of smashed-up pieces of pink marble is surrounded by milky white marble, onyx, and Venetian gold marble, giving the 1980s house an old-world vibe. While the weeklong project was time-consuming (Sarokhanian thought about the placement of each slab carefully), she admits it was stress-free.“ Tiling is more of an art than a contractor’s skill,” she explains. Ahead, Sarokhanian walks us through the mini masterpiece. 

The Supplies

• Large-scale marble tiles 
• Mallet
• Plastic bin 
• Large stone mortar
• Sanded grout 
• Angle grinder
• Penetrating sealer 

Step 1: Start With a Moisture-Resistant Slate 

Big grout spaces mean you don’t have to use as much stone as you would if you were doing a usual streamlined backsplash. (Sarokhanian suggests buying 30 percent less tile than you normally would.) Also, be sure to source pieces that are all the same thickness. “Otherwise it will look weird and collect dust,” says the designer. After removing the old upper cabinets in her space, Sarokhanian hung green board, which, unlike drywall, is a material that won’t absorb moisture and is mold resistant. 

Step 2: Make Your Puzzle Pieces 

Using a rubber mallet, the designer broke the marble tiles into large and small chunks. She dumped the stone pieces into large plastic storage bins so she could sift through them as she worked her way across the wall.

Step 3: Lay Away

Before applying mortar to the surface, Sarokhanian outlined the arch with a pencil. This gave her a general idea of where to place the slabs to help create a curved shape. The designer filled in the gaps between the biggest chunks with 1-inch-size remnants. Once the pink stone was set, she went over it with sanded grout. For the white and yellow marbles outside of the main arch, she skipped the grout and instead coated it with more mortar. 

Step 4: Clean Up the Edges 

Sarokhanian’s hottest tip: Only use natural stone for this project. “The edges are going to be sharp after you break them,” she explains. “And when you sand ceramic tile, it loses its top coat of color.” After setting the stone in the mortar and grouting it, she buffed out any rough spots with an angle grinder. 

Step 5: Finish It With a Top Coat 

Apply the penetrating sealer with either a pump sprayer, sponge, or brush. This is especially important to use in any areas that weren’t covered with grout, which has a natural sealant in it. Leave it to cure and dry for 24 hours, then stand back and enjoy your one-of-a-kind collage. 

Try It Out

DEWALT Angle Grinder, Amazon ($80 was $183)

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Polished Marble Remnants, Terrazzo & Marble Supple

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Calcita Blue Marble Remnant, Stone Remnants by Euro Stone Craft

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Impregnator Sealer by Mircale Sealants, Amazon ($32)

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The post This $150 DIY Backsplash Is Made Entirely of Marble Remnants No One Else Wanted appeared first on domino.

Who says you have to completely demo your kitchen (not to mention your budget) to make it yours? In our new series, The No-Reno Kitchen, we’re highlighting total transformations that prove the power of paint, fixtures, and a little elbow grease. 

Marco Zamora almost didn’t show up to tour his Los Angeles apartment. “All the photos on the listing site were taken six years ago and were bad quality,” he recalls. But knowing that it met his major requirements (it was in his budget and came with a parking spot), he went anyway—and discovered a completely different space. There was French windows, ornate molding, and exposed ceiling beams. The only room that had been stripped of the 1920s charm was the boring white kitchen.

Feeling inspired by the architecture he saw on a recent trip to Mexico City, the design influencer set out to revive the space, all while relying on renter-friendly upgrades. “I wanted to channel my own culture and make it my special place,” says Zamora. Here are four game-changing DIYs he tackled on a $300 budget. 

Fill in (Some of) the Blanks

One surefire way to add character to a space is with color. Zamora bought a pack of red and white peel-and-stick floor tiles on Amazon for $22, despite the product having very few reviews at the time. “I thought, let’s take a risk. At least there is a good return policy,” he says with a laugh. Once they arrived, he realized he didn’t even need to use the white squares in the box (his flooring is already made up of actual white tiles). Instead, Zamora laid the red stickers down in a checkerboard fashion, trimming the sides with an X-acto knife to expose the grout lines for a more realistic look. “I’m surprised, but they’ve been holding up great,” he says. 

Embrace a New Frame of Mind

Zamora’s only rule for updating his kitchen was that anything that he put up had to be something he could easily take down. This included the new doorframe he made out of wood blanks from the hardware store and cut with a compound miter saw in the back of his apartment complex. After staining the boards with a dark brown finish, he nailed the three pieces together and then to the existing threshold. But he wasn’t done yet: Zamora topped the doorway with a faux stained-glass transom window made out of lightweight plexiglass, faux lead lines, and a glass paint set. 

Get Cutting-Edge With Your Counters

Zamora went the peel-and-stick route once more with his countertops, which he covered in a butcher block-inspired contact paper. Pulling off the illusion is all in the application. “It’s the details, like making sure you don’t have any air bubbles, that take it to the next level,” he points out. The vinyl product is waterproof, but to maintain it for as long as possible, Zamora says he avoids directly cutting anything on top of it. 

Hide Eyesores With Art 

Zamora’s kitchen did have one noteworthy quirk: a microwave recessed in the middle of the wall. As a quick fix, he mounted a thick piece of wood next to it on hinges so he could hang a large piece of thrifted art to act as a door. “It was perfect for my kitchen—it had the right colors and wood tones,” he says. An open-and-shut case if we’ve ever seen one.

The post A $300 Renter-Friendly Makeover Brought 1920s Charm to This Boring White Kitchen appeared first on domino.

Who says you have to completely demo your kitchen (not to mention your budget) to make it yours? In our new series, The No-Reno Kitchen, we’re highlighting total transformations that prove the power of paint, fixtures, and a little elbow grease. 

Drew Michael Scott knows he’s not supposed to put his copper pots and pans in the dishwasher, but that didn’t stop him from covering the appliance itself in the metal. For his latest kitchen upgrade, the serial DIYer and creator behind Lone Fox wrapped his 24-inch-wide stainless steel Samsung dishwasher in a solid sheet of copper that not only looks great alongside his dark brown cabinets but matches said cookware collection. “I started the process with hope, just trusting myself,” says Scott. The risk factor was especially high on this project: He’d only get one go at it. “I was like, okay, if I just take the door off and wrap it like a present, I feel like it would work,” he remembers.

The 3-by-4-foot copper sheet, which he sourced through Van Dyke’s Restorers, totaled to $446 with shipping. But Scott says the splurge was worth it for this transformation. “I definitely thought about contact paper and spray paint, but I knew they’d look very mediocre,” he says. “I really wanted that authentic metal look.” Scott documented the project in a recent YouTube tutorial, but you can also catch his step-by-step, below. Plus he tells us how it’s holding up one month later.

 The Supplies

• Screwdriver
• Solid copper sheet
• Two tubes of steel reinforced epoxy
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Clamps
• Metal scraper
• Wooden spoon
• Optional: Copper pot rack bar to use as handle
• Drill
• Screws
• Pliers
• Wing nuts

Step 1: Remove the Panel 

Turn off your dishwasher and open it up. You should be able to remove the front panel by unscrewing it from the inside of the machine’s door. After some brief wiggling around and shifting wires out of the way, the front should pop right off. Set the hardware aside. Next, unscrew the existing handle.

Step 2: Account for Any Lights

In Scott’s case, his dishwasher had three tiny holes on the front for the “on” lights. If you also need to account for buttons or lighting, lay your dishwasher panel on a flat surface and place a sheet of painter’s paper on top of it. Cut the paper to match the door’s dimensions, accounting for all four sides as well as the front. Then, with a pencil, lightly scribble over any holes so the markings transfer to the paper. Use a hole puncher to make the markings even more clear. This is your template. 

Step 3: Trim It Down

Lay the paper on top of your copper sheet, securing it with blue tape. Trim off the large amounts of excess metal with scissors (Scott allowed for approximately an inch of extra sheeting on all four sides). Pulling out your hole puncher again, create the openings for the lights in the copper sheeting.

Step 4: Fuse the Old and New

With your dishwasher panel laying flat on a table, face up, begin to apply a thin coat of epoxy across its surface. Warning: You’ll have to work fast, as the adhesive’s drying time is only six minutes. A metal scraper will allow you to spread the glue quickly and evenly.

Gently set your copper sheet on top of the door, using the holes for the lights as your guide for perfect alignment. Leave it to cure, plopping a few coffee-table books on top of the copper sheet to help the process along. Scott waited around an hour and a half, but the product’s directions suggest up to six hours of setting time.

Step 5: Wrap the Edges Like a Present

Lightly fold the overhanging metal around the edges of the dishwasher panel with your hands. For tidy corners, make a small slice with your scissors and then use jewelry pliers to neatly fold and press the sheeting. Then cut off the excess material, leaving only ¼ inch of copper sheeting around the border (the rest will be hidden by your cabinets). You want to get it as tightly wrapped as possible, so continue to crease the edges with a wooden spoon, as it won’t mark up the surface. Where needed, apply extra epoxy or use books, clamps, painter’s tape, or screws to help fully seal the metal to the sides.

Step 5: Get a New Grip on Things

Scott decided to swap out the dishwasher’s handle, too. Well, technically, it’s a pot rack that turned out to be the perfect size. To do the same, flip over your finished panel and locate the holes where the old handle was mounted. Press lightly into the openings with pliers, just enough to leave a small dent on the front side. Flip the door back over and mark those indentations with a pencil before drilling through them. Scott used screws, wing nuts, and mounting plates to secure his new brass bar in place. Finally, grab the original appliance screws and reattach your brand-new panel.

And the Verdict Is…

Copper is an ever-changing material. As the metal reacts with carbon dioxide and water over time, the surface will turn a blue-green patina color—but that’ll take a really long time in this case, Scott points out. “If it turns green, I think that would be so cool, but this copper sheeting has a coating that would have to wear down before it actually starts to oxidize,” he says. And Scott’s not done with the material yet: He plans to use the extra scrap pieces to line open shelves and maybe even cover his base cabinet’s toe kicks.

The post Rather Than Settle for His Dishwasher’s Stainless Steel Door, This DIYer Wrapped It in Copper appeared first on domino.

Kate Hudson is nothing if not innovative in the kitchen. From developing her own smoothie supplements to figuring out the fastest way to steam potatoes—it involves this $415 contraption—the actor is always cooking up something. When she shared a recipe for mini peach pies with her followers on Instagram, we found ourselves instantly craving the sweet, summery dish, but mostly we were in awe of the hardworking cookware item we clocked in her post.

 

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A post shared by Kate Hudson (@katehudson) on Aug 12, 2020 at 9:43pm PDT

Behold: the Staub mini cocotte. These small baking dishes are perfect for individual desserts. For a fresh take on Hudson’s go-to, try this cherry-almond crisp, originally whipped up by Joanna Gaines—a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top makes it the perfect summertime treat. If you don’t have much of a sweet tooth, the scaled-down ceramics are also great for plenty of savory oven recipes. The most famous is probably eggs en cocotte (baked eggs with ham and cheese), but you can also make any kind of quiche, gratin, or soufflé your heart desires in these delightful little pieces. For the ultimate comfort food treat, we strongly recommend putting this mac and cheese in your recipe rotation.

Mini Cocettes by Staub

Staub Ceramics Mini Cocotte, Set of 3, Wayfair ($60)

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If you haven’t tried cooking with cocottes yet, now’s a great time. Stock up and enjoy cozy meals all year long.

The post Kate Hudson Buys Multiples of This $60 Kitchen Essential appeared first on domino.