When it comes to your home, your kitchen is one of the rooms where you spend a large amount of time. Having an updated kitchen is important for your functional needs, while the style should reflect a look you love. Updating a kitchen can be expensive, but as long as the layout works, there’s no reason to break the bank. We have seven ways you can upgrade your kitchen, from small projects to large–without costing you a fortune. Need advice? We’re here to help. The design consultants at Metropolitan Window Fashions will offer advice and inspiration for your kitchen upgrade!
Upgrade Your Kitchen With Paint.
#1 Paint the walls. There’s nothing quite like a fresh coat of paint to breathe new life into a space, and your kitchen is no different. The daily wear and tear in a kitchen brings steam, oils and spices into the air, finally landing on surfaces…like your walls and ceilings. Choose a favorite color, and stick with finishes such as satin and eggshell for easy clean up.
#2 Paint the cabinets. Your cabinets carry a lot of weight when it comes to the overall look of your kitchen. Most of the time, kitchen cabinets are still in good shape functionally–it’s the finishes and paints that need the update. Painting your cabinets will change the atmosphere and add contemporary design. Most paint experts recommend a coat of primer after the doors have been removed, and then two coats of paint. Consulting with a paint expert will help you choose the proper finish–like the walls, easy maintenance is a must.
Upgrade Your Kitchen With Small Touches.
#3 Change the pulls. Sometimes, it’s the smallest details that make a big impact. If the knobs and pulls in your kitchen haven’t been changed in the last few years, you won’t believe the dramatic style they will add. The style of hardware in your kitchen can speak volumes design, and choosing ones that reflect your own personal style is important.
#4 Choose fresh linens and decor. Refresh your kitchen with a pop of color or a declaration of style with new dish towels, a table runner, custom upholstery or rugs. Adding function and style, these are the details that will invite a whole new look. Beautiful fabrics on chairs will update the furniture and bring together elements of style throughout your kitchen.
#5 Pick out new dishes. Life’s too short to not love your dishes. Sometimes three meals a day–you should feel like your dishes are an extension of your personal style. There are so many choices with unique colors and designs, this is easily an element of style that lets you express yourself.
Upgrade Your Kitchen With Ideal Lighting.
#6 Create atmosphere with window shades. The daily activities of the kitchen require excellent light control. To add both function and ambiance for cooking, meals and entertaining, window shades with top-down bottom-up will bring in plenty of natural light while preventing glare. Light-filtering fabrics will 
disperse natural throughout your kitchen so you don’t have to rely on artificial light, but you’ll maintain the pleasant atmosphere and energy efficiency that you need.
#7 Update Your Light Fixtures. Lighting is such an important part of style and atmosphere in your home, and your kitchen is no different. Chances are, it’s been awhile since new light fixtures were added, but they are a great way to express your style and complement your decor. Consider choosing lights that can be dimmed so you can adjust the light depending on time of day and your preferences.
Is it time for a kitchen makeover? Do you want to make changes that will upgrade your kitchen with style and function? While these updates range from small to large, they will all make a huge impact on your kitchen. Do you need help? Our consultants at Metropolitan Window Fashions can help you create the perfect look in your kitchen, whether you are thinking of paint, window coverings or any custom fabric projects. We can provide the inspiration and guidance you need with a free, in-home consultation. Contact our team to get started on your next project today!
One thing is for sure, when you add color to your open concept living space, the colors you choose need to be colors you love–shades that make you feel good when you’re surrounded by them. Because open floor plans include a number of rooms, for an unlimited amount of circumstances throughout the day, you’ll spend much of your time in this space. Remember that not everything across the shared spaces must match. Many colors pair well with one another, coordinating well without appearing too matchy-matchy. The foundation color will most likely span across the space, so subtle colors work best for the foundation and trim. Then it will be up to you to decide which accent colors will work. 
Not only do the windows in your open floor plan bring in amazing natural light, but they provide a gorgeous backdrop of the outside world. When rooms are combined into a shared space, the windows break up the wall space much like artwork. Make a beautiful statement at the window, while also gaining tremendous function with window treatments. Adding color to your open concept living space has never been easier than with flowing custom drapes, top treatments and window shades. Adding dimension and style, custom window treatments let you have control over how much light and privacy your home has. With custom fabrics, colors and textures, you can add beautiful design elements and frame your breathtaking view.
Too much bold design might overwhelm you, so choosing one wall to make into the focal point of the room is a great way when you’re thinking of adding color to an open concept living space. Typically, the chosen wall is not the wall with the largest amount of space. It’s better to let one of the smaller walls receive big style. One method is to choose a wall that is easily visible when walking into the space. Another design scheme is to paint one wall space in each “room” area of the open floor plan, allowing each room to showcase a different accent color. Use the architectural features of your home, and your own personal preferences, to decide which type of focal wall works for you. Both paint and wallpaper can be great ideas when adding color to your open concept floor plan.
Play with the idea of how arranging the furniture might change the atmosphere. You’ll want it to lend itself to the energy flow of the space. Conversation spaces are popular for living rooms, adjusting the furniture so it’s easy to enjoy another person’s company. You may like the idea of using the furniture to create division of the space, adding a more intimate feel. Whatever you decide, adding color to an open concept living space is easy with accent pieces, decor and rugs. Area rugs and decor, such as lamps and artwork, can help you show off your personal style for the perfect look.
Your privacy is one of the most important design features of your bathroom is privacy. While some bathrooms are housed within interior rooms, most have at least one small window to let in natural light. You and your family need to feel the comfort of privacy in the bathroom, and that control should be simplistic enough for even the smallest members of the family to function. The blinds, shades and shutters that you choose for your bathroom can feature simple operating systems–like the gentle push-pull of a wand or the LiteRise system–that offers instant privacy. Privacy should be in your control–make sure the window coverings you choose offer simple function with high levels of privacy.
Getting ready for the day, there’s no question–you want to have an adequate amount of light. But once the abundance of light has entered the bathroom, what’s the atmosphere like? Do you struggle with the harshness of direct light bouncing off mirrors and other reflective surfaces? Is the glare making it hard for your bathroom to seem pleasant? The right amount and type of light is one of the most important design features of your bathroom. When choosing the ideal light fixtures, as the bathroom tends to be a smaller space, opt for those that have frosted glass to diffuse some of the light. Two separate sources of light are another option, allowing you to choose the amount of artificial light. For light control of entering natural light, top down window shades allow natural light to come in and disperse throughout the room without filling the space with an unlimited amount of sunshine. There are also window shades in light-filtering materials that can pull in the natural light, while still allowing as much privacy as you need.
There’s nothing quite as chilling as trying to get yourself ready in the morning–or taking kids out of the tub at night–in a chilly bathroom. One of the most important design features of your bathroom is temperature control. Be in control of the temperature in your bathroom by preventing those uncomfortable drafts. Duette honeycomb shades offer the insulation you need to keep the temperature of your bathroom comfortable throughout the year. Preventing drafts is an important function of Duette’s energy efficient features, while the cellular construction of these window shades prevents the cool surface of the window to lower the inside temperature of your bathroom.
Even in the most spacious bathrooms, real estate is limited. Counter space is often used for items you need to get yourself ready, and there’s no space for extras. Keeping the design features and decor of your bathroom on the low-profile side will ensure that the entire room is as functional as possible. That means when choosing side tables and shelving, keep in mind how much space you have to use, and be frugal with that space. Window coverings should honor the idea of limited space, as well, while still providing the essential functions of light control, privacy, energy efficiency and UV protection. Sometimes your windows are in a position that can make the function complicated. The intuitive technology of PowerView motorized shades offers you touch of a button control for convenience and ease.
Bathrooms are known areas of humidity and moisture. As you choose design features for your bathroom, keep in my the materials you are using must be created to withstand the elements. The moisture and heat of the bathroom can sometimes affect materials differently than other rooms within your home. Hunter Douglas has taken measures to ensure you always have window coverings that meet your needs. Depending on the style of your bathroom, plantation shutters may be the perfect choice for you–our Palm Beach Polysatin shutters will be the perfect choice, created for areas of high heat and humidity. If the look of window shades is more your style, our Applause shades have fabrics designed to prevent mildew. Our design consultants can help you select window coverings to make sure your bathroom looks amazing for years to come.
The time-honored tradition of plantation shutters will add endless amounts of style to your home. Our three different types of custom shutters–Heritance Hardwood, Palmbeach Polysatin and NewStyle Hybrid–all have many of the design elements and specialty features available for you to customize your shutters exactly as you would like. Perfect for patio doors and a range of window sizes, custom shutters will highlight the look of any room in your home. The plantation shutters featured here are our Heritance Hardwood shutters, made of genuine hardwood and created with the highest level of craftsmanship. From specialty glazes to unique distressing, Heritance shutters offer six artisanal techniques for you to choose from. These shutters are shown with the front tilt bar, running down the center, for effortless adjustment and traditional styling.
One of the most distinct qualities of plantation shutters is the angles, curves and arches they can be customized to fit. With clean, structured form, custom shutters make a statement just by adhering to the unique look of your windows. That’s one of the reasons they add such stunning style–the dramatic look of lines and curves adds a sophisticated atmosphere to your home. Custom shutters are the perfect choice when you have large windows–the light control, privacy, UV protection and view-through that you often worry about with over-sized windows is a breeze with custom shutters. The plantation shutters shown here are NewStyle hybrid shutters. Created with a combination of real wood and man-made materials, they are value-priced for your budget, while providing the custom look you have been searching for. The view-through with these shutters is clear and unobstructed, as the rear tilt feature hides the tilt bar, adding contemporary appeal to this classic look.
The dynamic function of plantation shutters will transform your home with amazing benefits. Adjustable louvers–in a variety of slat sizes–offer ease of function and the perfect amount of light every time. Privacy is one simple adjustment away, making plantation shutters an ideal choice for any room in your home. With options for operating systems–such as bi-fold, bi-pass and hinged panels–you can choose the function that fits your home and your lifestyle. The custom plantation shutters shown here are Palmbeach Polysatin shutters. Created to withstand the elements, and with areas of high humidity and moisture in mind, Palmbeach shutters feature an exclusive finish to guarantee against cracking, warping and yellowing. All of our Hunter Douglas shutters come with a limited lifetime warranty–making them a choice you will value for years to come.
It can be easy to notice everything that’s wrong with something–a home, a wardrobe, a body. The problem is that if you focus on the negative, you’ll forget to take notice of the positives. There is good there. To help keep your home’s resolutions in the New Year, one thing you’ll have to do is learn how to turn a negative into a positive. That terrible glare in the living room that chases you away each morning until the sun goes down? You can find solutions for that–but you first should notice how incredible it is to have natural light entering your home in the first place. Turning negatives into positives is a state of mind, and you may have to work on it, but it will affect your life in ways you’ve never imagined. Learn to love what you have, notice what you’ve been missing, and find ways to make it better. Doesn’t that sound like how you wish you could live your life year-round?
One resolution that everyone seems to focus on this time of year is physical appearance, and your home is no different. Transforming a space, much like making changes to your own body, takes time, and you have to stick with it. In order for your home to keep its New Year’s resolutions this year, it’s time to stop making New Year’s resolutions. Wait…What? That’s right. If you want to make changes to your home and yourself, you have to stop trying to make those changes once a year, and instead, revisit small goals for yourself on a regular basis. Want to be more organized? Schedule time once a month to organize a collection of items in your home, or do it room by room. Want to be more physically fit? Set a small goal for yourself to go to the gym more times next week than you did this week. Have you decided that you want to redecorate, but since ‘redecorating’ is so incredibly vague and overwhelming, you’ve already given up? Realize that there are ways to make the changes that you want without taking on too much at once. When it comes to helping your home keep its New Year’s resolutions, we can help! At Metropolitan Window Fashions, we handle the tough stuff for you–from window coverings and custom drapes, to paint and custom upholstery, we have exciting options for you choose from. We make decorating fun, and we’ll take our time to make sure you are enjoying the process and creating the home you’ve always wanted. So whether you want to start one room at a time, or you would like to start with custom bedding, pillows or accents–and go from there–we would love to help you.
From the tranquility of watery blues, to the cottage chic fashions of a relaxing day at the beach, the design world embraced a comfortable look in 2015. Sophisticated as much as it was calming, this vacation-esque mindset for interior design has incredible promise for design trends into the new year. Why? Taking a cue from a favorite vacation, an atmosphere of playful fun is the perfect surrounding for your home. So many of us work so hard; it’s time to take a break from the seriousness of life and just chill. We love it, and we are excited to see this evolve in the upcoming design trends. Wanting to create your own at-home oasis? We have the ideal window shades and drapery panels for beauty and function.
Starting out the day, the bathroom should be filled with the warm glow of natural light, while offering ample privacy. The bathroom is a place to peacefully prepare for the beginning of a new day and a sanctuary of relaxation at the end of a tough one. Bathroom design deserves high-end style with custom décor that adds valuable lifestyle function. Custom décor that brings in the essence of nature adds to the harmony and flow of the space. Custom window coverings with the top-down bottom-up feature are ideal for providing privacy while allowing the natural light needed for shaving, putting on makeup and starting the day with a positive, productive mood.
