From color to material and beyond, there are plenty of factors to consider when choosing the perfect backsplash. Get help through the kitchen remodeling process with these three keys to choosing the perfect one!

 

During your kitchen remodel, choosing the right backsplash for your space could potentially fall through the cracks — no pun intended. But your backsplash can change the entire look and vibe of your kitchen, so it’s an important factor — and the options are endless! That’s why Accent Design has compiled the three keys to consider when going through the kitchen remodeling decision process:

 

#1: Functionality
The main purpose of a backsplash is to prevent damage from cooking, water and erosion. Typically the backsplash covers the space between counters and cabinets, but can go higher if desired. When deciding on your backsplash, consider the ease of clean-up, as well as accessibility. We love tasteful yet easy-to-clean options that can work as a statement piece while also serving as a functional asset in your kitchen.

Part of a backsplash’s functionality is also its durability. Throughout an extensive kitchen remodeling process, you’ll want to pick materials that will last for the long haul — without sacrificing style or appearance. Tiles made of porcelain, ceramic, glass and concrete serve as great, durable options that are built to handle normal wear and tear.

 

#2: Appearance
A backsplash can be a focal point in your kitchen, so you want it to look great! Between size, material and color, it can be overwhelming to decide what looks best. This is where samples can become your best friend. One of the best ways to choose a backsplash is to live with it for a time. At Accent Design, we’ll bring backsplash samples to your home and help you decide what works best in the space.  Place these samples next to your wall for a couple days to see what you prefer — living with samples in your space can give you a better idea of what truly works.

 

#3: Cost
The cost of a backsplash depends on a number of things: the material, size, grout, trim pieces, installation and more. Depending on what you want your backsplash to look like, prices will vary. For example, say you want a less expensive tile that doesn’t lack in appearance — you might opt for ceramic tiles rather than porcelain or glass. Although thinner, ceramic tile comes in a variety of patterns and formats and can meet your stylistic needs without breaking the bank.

This is also where a design team can come into play. With your budget in mind, Accent Design can show you mock-ups, provide samples and integrate your vision throughout the kitchen remodeling process. Plus, thanks to our relationships with high-quality manufacturers, Accent Design can ensure you get a high-quality selection of materials at the best price. 

 

Although backsplash options are endless, our designers can help you select the perfect solution. At Accent Design, we help homeowners find kitchen backsplash materials, styles and sizes that fit your vision, while also meeting your budget. Contact us to find the perfect backsplash — and more — for your kitchen remodeling project.

Your cabinets aren’t just one of the most visible and functional components of your kitchen, they’re also one of the biggest investments you’ll make during your remodel. That’s why selecting the right kitchen cabinets is essential — and Accent Design can help. We’ve put together five tips to help you pick out the perfect kitchen cabinets.

 

Your kitchen style should be as unique as you are — and your kitchen cabinet choices will play an important role in the overall feel of your new space. Whatever your design tastes, Accent Design has compiled five tips to help you choose the perfect cabinets for your kitchen remodel:

 

#1: Expand your horizons
Before picking out colors, materials and hardware, spend some time looking at different styles to see what draws you in.  Perhaps you already know you want an industrial style kitchen — great! But if you’re unsure, we recommend a little research. Selecting the right kitchen cabinets is a major factor in a kitchen’s overall theme, so online research is a great place to start. You can also contact the Accent Design team to receive physical samples and digital mock-ups of possible selections, or to schedule a showroom visit.

 

#2: Go against the grain
Kitchen cabinets are made out of many different kinds of materials, including laminate, melamine, veneers and (most commonly) wood. Don’t be afraid to try new styles! Choose the cabinets that fit your personal style, while also remembering that the material you choose will impact cost, color and durability. Maple, for example, is a versatile option — it can be stained, painted and distributed at a relatively low cost.

 

#3: Get creative
Choosing your kitchen cabinets is a fun and important step for setting the entire tone of your kitchen. Currently, white is by far the most common cabinet color, followed by natural wood tones and other neutral colors (gray, black, dark green, beige, etc.). White tends to be the most popular color choice for kitchen cabinets because it appears fresh and clean, but there are other suitable, fun colors to choose from. Check out our Aina Haina Kitchen Remodel for some color inspiration.

 

#4: Consider your hardware
Though a seemingly minor element of your kitchen cabinets, the type of hardware you choose can impact the overall feel of your kitchen. For example, if you enjoy the farmhouse style, you might opt for distressed white or natural wood cabinets with dark hardware. Or if you prefer a modern look, your kitchen cabinets might use sleek metal hardware with clean, solid colors. View our Manoa Bathroom Remodel, where we combined natural, organic wood elements with sleek metal hardware for a unique, contemporary look.

 

#5: Don’t forget functionality
Cabinets protect dishware from dust and provide increased storage space for food, dishes and other kitchen appliances and accessories. But kitchen cabinet functionality can vary depending upon your unique needs. Do you hate the sound of slamming cupboards? Cabinetry with soft-close features (like all cabinetry chosen by Accent Design) is a simple, yet important feature that can set the tone of your kitchen. You can also get creative when it comes to storage space. Many kitchens have standard “dead zones” where tricky areas are left unused or simply dysfunctional. Take a look at the corner cabinet solution from our Maunalani Heights renovation, which is one of our favorite examples of creative space-saving kitchen hacks. 

 

During a kitchen remodel, there are a lot of factors to manage and decisions to be made. One of the benefits of working with a team like Accent Design is that we work to understand your needs, then recommend options and provide samples to help you visualize your new kitchen. Plus, we work with you throughout every step of the kitchen cabinet design and installation process to ensure that the finished kitchen exceeds your expectations. Contact us today to see some of the latest kitchen cabinet styles that could be just right for your island home.

Whether it’s for a small bathroom remodel or a full kitchen renovation—or anything in between!—it’s important to pick the right countertop surface for your unique space.

There are a lot of factors that go into picking the right countertop material for your home. In addition to aesthetic, we know how important it is to consider price, quality, and durability. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of our top three countertops Hawaii homeowners are sure to love as much as we do.

At Accent Design, we help homeowners find countertops that fit the unique personality of their home remodel, while also meeting their budget and maintenance requirements. Contact us to learn which Hawaii countertop companies we recommend for your next kitchen or bathroom remodel.

Accent Design has been busy working on an exciting new project this month. We’re excited to announce that we are remodeling a kitchen vignette at the Ferguson showroom in Honolulu, Hawaii.

While we’ve been working on the design for a while now, our renovation began in earnest this month. And to celebrate, we wanted to give you a sneak peak of what you can see in October!

Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery offers word-class home finishing products like kitchen appliances, lighting, and other fixtures and accessories. All of these products are featured in their state-of-the-art showrooms, where homeowners and designers can go to select the perfect products for their next project. We often partner with Ferguson to select appliances and fixtures for our Hawaii home renovation projects.

We are so excited to be remodeling one of the largest filming areas at the Honolulu Ferguson showroom—the main kitchen. This kitchen is a live cooking station that is used to film local cooking shows. To take full advantage of the large space, we will actually be turning the kitchen into two live cooking stations—one gas and one induction.

Of course, we wanted to select only the best products and partners for the new space. When the kitchen is finished and showcased in October, you’ll notice materials from some of our favorite home supply partners, including:

• Design-Craft Cabinets
• Medallion Cabinetry
• LG Viatera
• Tile Warehouse
• Top Knobs
• And more!

When we unveil the space, we will also be debuting brand new products from Lunada Bay Tile. In fact, two of the tiles aren’t even on the market yet! Be sure to check back in with Accent Design to see the final kitchen designs in October. In the meantime, feel free to check out the other featured projects on our site

We had the pleasure of chatting with our friends at Viatera Countertops about one of our latest kitchen renovations, which was recently featured as inspiration on their website.

We always love partnering with Viatera® by LG Hausys on our Hawaii home remodels, and we feel especially honored to be recognized for this fun Hawaii kitchen renovation. We used the beautiful Viatera Marvel on this recent Aina Haina project, and couldn’t be more pleased with the finished product. We’re happy to know that Viatera was equally pleased with the final result!

Our Aina Haina homeowners wanted a countertop surface that looked like natural stone, but that still held up to daily use without the need for costly and time-intensive maintenance. Since Viatera quartz doesn’t need to be regularly sealed like many other countertop surfaces, it seemed like a no-brainer for the space. Plus, the white background and gray veining detail of the Marvel countertop perfectly complemented the colorful elements we used throughout the rest of the kitchen. The countertop ended up being exactly what we needed to complete the space.

We’re happy to see the steps that LG is taking to continually increase their product offerings and options. Not only their products, but their customer service, product availability, and price points are truly unmatched. We look forward to working with them on many more projects in the future.

Click here to read the full case study by Viatera.

Want to learn more about our Aina Haina kitchen remodel? Click here to see additional photos and read the project overview.

Adding square feet to your existing home isn’t always an option. So how do you make your kitchen remodeling dreams come true with such limited space? Accent Design is coming to the rescue with our top five tips for a functional kitchen.

We’ll never stop stressing the importance of utilizing every inch of valuable real estate in your kitchen. Many homes, especially older homes in Hawaii, weren’t built with this smart use of space in mind. But don’t let poor planning leave you with wasted space in your kitchen! These kitchen remodeling tips can help you get the most out of your renovation.

At Accent Design, we’re experts at optimizing your kitchen space for your unique needs. Contact us to learn how we can help you with your next home remodeling project.