Kitchen Design

A lot of the budget on a home renovation or new build goes into the kitchen.  Meals are made, families gather around before and after dinner, and I feel like everyone's just drawn to the island (if you have one!).  You always remember a great meal mom or dad made, and the conversations you had around the dinner table.  I have great plans for my kitchen one day, and so I'm always on the lookout for inspiration.  Here are some looks that I've been loving these days:

Open storage - would look great if you have one or two colors for dinner plates, serving dishes, and cookware.  Very simple, and probably the most cost effective solution for storage.

Large Islands (if you have the luxury of space) - you can use the large surface as a secondary prep area, teach your kids (or friends) to cook and bake, and create a casual eating area for breakfast and family dinners.  Made for memories.

Most importantly:  a great kitchen has selling power!  I would allocate a little more of my budget into the kitchen and cut back on other parts of the home.  Just a thought... 

(Images via elledecor.com)