Indoor-Outdoor Kitchen Remodel Ideas

Home Design

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Going Green: Bringing the Outdoors Inside Your Kitchen Remodel

As we celebrate Earth Day, the pleasant weather and warmer temperatures make it tempting to spend most of your time outdoors- especially after the miserable winter we all survived. However, there are plenty of ways to plan a Chicago kitchen remodel that combines the best of the outdoors and indoors so that you have a beautiful space for the weekend cookouts and breezy summer nights ahead.

Naturally, during the warmer months, you’ll want to soak up the sun outside, whether it’s by barbecuing for a family get-together or just enjoying the backyard. No matter what you’re doing, it’s always easier and more convenient to have the food nearby! Having the kitchen and the outdoor patio or deck area adjacent to each other makes the most sense. This way, when you’re entertaining, your guests have the flexibility to move freely between the kitchen and outdoor area. Everyone is gathered in the same area while enjoying both spaces.

Natural Kitchen Lighting

In your kitchen remodel, lighting is a key component to an overall feel of the space. Have you ever noticed that when you walk into a kitchen with lots of natural light, it feels very welcoming? The natural light that we enjoy during longer summer hours will open up the space, making even a small kitchen seem larger than it is. Natural light enhances the beauty of certain materials or kitchen elements, such as a white quartzite countertop or a crystal chandelier. The light reflects off these surfaces at different times of the day to change the feel of a kitchen. The natural light not only triggers your sensors, but it also makes you want to spend more time in that room. Since the kitchen is the heart of the home, it is key to include natural light when designing the space.

Natural Kitchen Elements

There are also many ways to incorporate elements of nature into your kitchen remodel, whether you want a subtle nod or a focal point. For example, bringing in wood adds warmth to the kitchen, whether it’s in flooring, countertops, or ceiling beams. On the countertop, you can use different wood species such as black walnut or zebrawood for a more natural, rustic feel; you can also make the thickness of the wood anywhere from 2-1/2” to 4-1/2” to create an outdoors-inspired environment.

Another way to use wood in a kitchen remodel is to incorporate reclaimed wood for ceiling beams. This will add visual interest to your ceiling, and when combined with a white ceiling, can give the illusion of a higher ceiling while adding a country-chic touch to your kitchen design.

Mimicking Outdoor Elements

Finally, you can bring the outdoors in by mimicking shapes and materials from nature. An organic-inspired backsplash tile (featuring leaf or floral shapes), natural stone floor tile (chiseled slate or tumbled travertine, for example), or oil-rubbed bronze, black, or pewter finishes for hardware and plumbing fixtures- no matter where you want to include a nod to nature, there’s a design option for you!

A nature-inspired kitchen remodel can be just the thing to revitalize your kitchen and enjoy nature’s finest season whether you’re indoors or outdoors. With the right kitchen remodel, you can enjoy Earth Day year-round!