It's easy being green!

As you begin your search for a new Ideal home, your wish list probably includes tall ceilings, hardwood floors, and possibly a modern, open plan. Maybe you’re looking for a home with character or something sleek and modern. Regardless, you probably consider the kitchen the heart of the home, and you want cabinets to the ceiling, stone countertops, and a stylish backsplash. For the last few years, as kitchen color trends come and go, we’ve mainly seen gleaming white with slick subway tile backsplashes – lots of Shaker-style cabinets and Carrera marble. But right now, green is on track to be the next big kitchen color trend. Greens of every shade – mint, sage, emerald, and forest – are coming to your kitchen this year.

Getting it right

White kitchens have dominated our homes for good reason: they’re easy to live with, timeless, and promote light and calm in what can be a chaotic space. Green, on the other hand, is not an easy design choice – and it’s easy to get key elements drastically wrong. So here are a few ideas to help you get it right in a green kind of way.

• Ideal Dark green paint

Designing with dark green cabinetry requires great care. The deep green tones are dramatic but will not reflect light or create warmth in the room.

• Say yes

You’ll want to maximize light and warmth by keeping windows undressed, choosing a pale color for backsplashes and countertops while using warm metallic fittings such as brass, gold, or copper. Work warm wood tones into your scheme and create a practical, attractive lighting scheme to highlight the dark spots.

• Just say no

Green, green everywhere, especially a dark or dramatic shade, will be a lot to live with.

• Gray-green paint

A pale cool green can be beautiful, creating a calm, peaceful feel for a busy space.

• Say yes

Add woody tones for warmth. White fittings like sinks and wall cabinetry add relief, while black fittings such as cabinet drawer pulls create a beautiful contrast.

• Just say no

Avoid black work surfaces and backsplashes unless your room is bathed in light during the day.

• An island of green

Highlight your kitchen island as the focus of the room. A kitchen island has evolved into the hub of the home, being used for everything from cooking to homework.

• Say yes

Choose a color that complements – not competes with – the rest of your kitchen cabinetry. Keep the rest of the room neutral to allow the island color to shine.

• Just say no

Choose a contrasting material, rather than the same material in a different color. for the island worktop.

• Green architecture

Using green on a feature wall or as an accent color can be striking.

• Say yes

If your room receives little or no warm daylight, choose a green with just a little yellow in it. A room with more daylight can take a cooler, bluer green.

• Just say no

Don’t overwhelm the room and yourself by putting green on all four kitchen walls unless you choose a very pale shade.

• Think green for accessories

Maybe you’re not planning a remodel right now but still want to embrace green in your kitchen. Adding an accent color can make a big impact.

• Say yes

One element in a strong green will stand out on its own.

• Just say no

Limit yourself to one shade of green, two at the most.

• Let your floors do the talking

You might just love a green floor, but the trick is to let it do all the talking and keep everything else minimal. Think handle-free cabinetry in gray tones that also feature in the tiles. Consider using open shelves on the walls instead of cabinets, and sleek white work surfaces on base units. Green statement floor tiles can also sit against wooden planks to bring warmth to a bright space.

Green is a friend to the environment

Another kind of green kitchen is one that’s eco-friendly. Ideal Homes & Neighborhoods, for years at the forefront of building environmentally sound homes, incorporates many energy-efficient ideas into its new homes, so our buyers are ahead of the game in many cases. If your new home is full of the character and charm you love, but badly needs a kitchen upgrade, here are some tips for designing your own “green” kitchen.

• Energy Star® appliances. Ideal homes come with energy-efficient appliances. When choosing your appliances, you may want to include Top and bottom freezer/refrigerator units. More energy-efficient than side-by-side models because not as much cold air escapes, or Convection ovens. This type of oven uses a fan to drive heat rapidly from source to food, so it cooks 25 percent faster than a conventional oven.
• Lighting. To cut down on lighting costs, choose energy-efficient fixtures. They may cut your lighting use by 50 percent. Whenever possible, use natural light to brighten up your kitchen and bring down your electric bill.
• Cork. Sound-absorbing, hypoallergenic and resistant to mold and mildew, cork is an excellent choice for kitchens.
• Recycling stations. Try adding a handy recycling pull-out drawer for easy access.
• Natural fabrics. Choose cotton for your dining chairs and window treatments and reduce the harmful chemicals used in the manufacture of man-made fabrics.

And remember – your Ideal Homes Design Center team is here to help you with decisions on how to include a fabulous green kitchen in your new home.

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