PAGE 16
THE BERNARDS-RIDGE CONNECTION
APRIL 2013
41
South Finley Avenue
Basking Ridge, NJ
(908) 766-2006
www.trueleafkitchens.com
Nikki Tans
AirBrush Tanning Boutique
291
Springfield Ave. • Berkeley Heights
908.295.9729
www.nikkitans.com
Private Parking Lot
Discover our
BoHo Chic pieces
to add to your
packing list!
Are You
Color
Obsessed?
New Deliveries arriving daily keeping
The Vacation Shop fresh & new
S
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r
f
B
a
z
a
a
r
THE
Tan, Shop & Party
Transitional design has been rising in
popularity and has now overtaken Tra-
ditional as the most popular style. Not
quite as minimalist as Modern style,
Transitional style is a pleasing mix of
classic and contemporary elements
that blends nicely with the colonial
architecture and traditional décor
found in the homes in our area. This
style is all about the kitchen becoming
an oasis from the chaos of life - incor-
porating simpler lines, cleaner design,
more inviting spaces and less clutter.
Here are some elements you can focus
on to achieve a transitional style
kitchen.
•
APPLIANCES ARE HIDDEN
OR STAINLESS
In order to get an open, uncluttered
feel in the kitchen, appliances will
disappear. Refrigerators and dish-
washers are fronted with the same
wood as the cabinets and small
appliances are behind folding cabi-
net doors. Any appliance that is visi-
ble should be stainless, the perfect
contemporary element in a transi-
tional kitchen.
•
POLISHED CHROME
AND CRYSTAL
Transitional style keeps things very
simple and unadorned, yet utilizes
different textures and finishes to add
visual interest. This means that some
surfaces should be non-reflective
and others should be shiny. Brushed
and satin finishes for hardware and
plumbing fixtures are taking a back
seat to polished finishes, particularly
polished nickel and crystal-looking
hardware which add that little
sparkle today’s transitional kitchen
needs.
•
SIMPLE BACKSPLASHES
Natural or porcelain subway tile, or
single mosaic pattern of natural
stone or glass, or even ledgestone
(
see picture), all make a striking but
simple backdrop to our transitional-
style kitchen. Not a lot of fancy, dec-
orative tiles are being added to
make this area of the kitchen too
busy. Subtle, textural and clean-
looking backsplashes are what is
trending today.
•
NON-TRADITIONAL WOODS
AND UNFUSSY DOOR STYLES
Classic cabinet woods such as cher-
ry and maple are being supplanted
by less traditional ones. Alder, birch
and walnut cabinets and counter-
tops look more current and work
well with transitional style. Cabinet
door styles tend to be simpler, usual-
ly using a flat center panel instead of
a raised center panel, with just a lit-
tle detail around the edges of the
frame only. Inset doors, with
exposed hinges, may seem too tradi-
tional, however, paired with con-
temporary accents can be perfect in
a transitional kitchen.
Whether the vision for your kitchen is
traditional, transitional or modern, Tru-
eLeaf Kitchens will take your ideas and
current trends and add their expertise
to create the perfect kitchen for 2013,
and beyond.
KITCHEN DESIGN TRENDS ARE GOING TRANSITIONAL NOT TRADITIONAL
Submitted By: Eileen Barna, TrueLeaf Kitchens
www.theconnectionsnj.com
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