How to Make Your Kitchen Look Expensive

[@AnnaReed42]

Do I have the money or even my own kitchen to do any of these things? Absolutely not. Am I still nodding along and dreaming about my ideal kitchen anyway? Yes, yes I am.

[@swatzzz]

I live in a rental and am most probably yearssss away from having my own house but I was nodding along too 😂 gosh I love interior design videos 😅

[@Nick_Lewis]

Haha dare to dream!

[@collette6103]

I live in a rental and just did mine with a deep orange wall I love. Cupboards were bad and I found replacement doors and drawers on sale in grey but a big improvement on what was there. I also wallpapered one wall that was in bad need of a. New surface.

[@erinestes7598]

I feel it. I've gotten permission from landlords to do quite a bit as long as the place can be returned to original. So I've replaced light fixtures or the covers on awful fluorescent covers. Replaced sink faucets, painted walls... Put up removable under cabinet task light.. I have had the back of a closet or pantry stuffed full of original bits I had to replace on move out lol but was worth it..

[@anaalves3658]

You can still use some of the tips that Nick mentioned 😊.

[@nothingpersonal878]

I don’t have all day because I have list of things to do longer than my arm. I appreciate how fast you talk. No zoning out and then wondering what I missed.

[@bethtrescher9311]

Hi from an American who just retired to Portugal. You and I are renovating a 100+ year old farmhouse, you just don't know how much your ideas are helping. Love your humor, thanks for turning on the light and you have ruined me forever on boob lights.

[@maloudelgado4566]

Wellcome!

[@marykirmo]

Once you see the boob light, you can’t unsee it!

[@clarasarria9397]

Good for renovating a traditional home!!

[@virginiasoskin9082]

Oh my yes, I hate boob lights too. There are literally thousands of other light fixtures that can be used. If you don't have the money, save up for a few new fixtures in your main rooms like the living, dining and kitchen, and then get an electrician to install them all in one visit to, again, save money. In FL most of our lights are ceiling fan/light combinations and they do come with glass shades which can always be swapped out later if they begin to look dated. Fans can also be removed and spray painted and then reinstalled. Plus ceiling fan blades are usually two sided so if one has canework inserts, a 1980s style (remember those??), they can often be spray painted and the fan blades turned over for a flat wood look. It is amazing how paint can update items like that. I have one little wooden lamp I have repainted at LEAST three times to go with a change in decor. Ha, ha.

[@terryruiz7417]

After 42 years in the same house, we were able to update our kitchen. My most excitement was over my new bridge faucet. It was love at first sight. 💕 I still look at it, seeing it as a piece of artwork. Doesn't take much to get this old girl excited!

[@2plus2by2]

Yes! Congratulations on finding your faucet love and being able to add it to your home. I'm in the process of designing the bathroom for my spouse and I. I happened to see a faucet on display while I was doing some recon shopping... in champagne bronze, which I hadn't ever seen before. 😍🥰 it completely decided the tone for the room. I am so excited!

[@Draggonny]

I'm doing my kitchen now. It wasn't the initial plan, but it got bumped up the priority list when one of the wall cabinets fell off the wall and smashed to pieces. My faucet is going to be chrome. It's one of the ones with the pull out hose, but the hose is completely hidden in the design. I didn't get excited about cabinets or the sink but the tap was an immediate decision. I saw it. I wanted it. It shall be mine.

[@653j521]

@@Draggonny Wow, I hope you got some good pictures. Nothing but thrills at your place. :)

[@AChickandaDuck]

I chose a bridge faucet too and love it! It’s so practical for filling large pots and I like that it swivels

[@pamelaportland1286]

Is there a reason you have to speak SO quickly? Love your show but this rapid- fire pace is a bit distracting.

[@dylan-dylan-dylan]

I love how KZbin allows you to watch things after they happen in real life. I like to watch his videos late in the evening and I call it Nick @ Nite. 🥰

[@saltycrunch]

The anchoring tip is legit. I've had a salt shaker, pepper shaker, chili pepper shaker, and a thin bottle of olive oil just kind of cluttering up my counter. I use the multiple times a day while cooking, so it never made sense to put them away. After watching this video I just put them on a small decorative plate and the counter instantly felt more organized and even a bit fancier.

[@tonii2019]

The “cabinets to the ceiling” tip is eye opening. 🤯👌

[@laurapenny1329]

Painted my bottom cabinets dark blue-gray a few years ago. Added the under cabinet lights that I had always wanted. And we had put maps of north America and a world map when my kids were growing up just to always pinpoint where things were happening. Now we collect old maps, frame them and put them up in the kitchen as art. I’m sure a real estate agent would hate it but we love the space and it really reflects us. Absolutely agree about the kitchen faucet; it gets used more often than any other faucet in the house, splurge on it. Like shoes you wear every day, it’s worth the big bucks.

[@edieohoxoxo932]

"The farm house tea towel, oh look at that, I'm interesting!!" You always find a way to crack me up...😄

[@karilane1416]

What! I love my tea towels! (ya'll know not to USE that one...use the black one on the stove!

[@berandomwithme.]

What I enjoy about your channel is that you aren’t afraid to stand behind your opinions. Respect.

[@bellathereader1328]

The best tip is to keep your kitchen clutter free. I've been doing that for many years and it really adds serenity to your life....

[@Erica-en2qz]

Agreed. I just bought a bakers shelf for my kitchen and moved things that were crowding the counter or on the floor (please, don't judge me 🫠). Now it looks so much better and has inspired me to do more!

[@sharonrickards3297]

Hard to keep clutter free when you cook every day. I want all my tools handy and at my disposal. Some people actually cook everyday. It's a kitchen folks!

[@marthayahoogillespie9567]

I agree. I have to cook all of my meals due to food allergies but I still have to have a place in my cupboards for everything. Empty countertops are my thing.

[@bellathereader1328]

@@marthayahoogillespie9567 I cook everything from scratch, including baking bread, and put things away when done using. It gives me so much peace of mind to look at clutter free counters🥰👩‍🍳

[@agentcallisto]

Totally agree. I also have no idea what’s so hard about grabbing a spatula out of a drawer vs out of a canister next to the stove. It’s entirely possible to have a functional kitchen without everything out on the counters.

[@ElderMillenial-x7b]

The farmhouse towel. "Look at me, I'm interesting." Love you, Nick!

[@louisefromNY]

Nick! What a beautiful difference in my kitchen! Thank you! I replaced my old rusty faucet with a gorgeous, modern, sleek black faucet. I put in an ultra modern black ceiling fan. Black hardware on all the cabinets. On the open shelves I put on black matte pots. I painted the backsplash, window trim, toe kicks matte black. My kitchen is GORGEOUS. Thanks Nick! 😊

[@carolcaruso6641]

I have the exposed side of kitchen cabinet hung with a collage frame of pictures of family cooking-- my mom stuffing a turkey, my husband making biscotti, my daughter helping me make cookies when she was 2 ( she is now 33) and what a fun element-- personalizes the kitchen for sure and such a conversation piece!!

[@jennasamuel8637]

Love this!

[@AM-ou1wt]

I have the same and guest love it and have copied the look. Personalization over trendy decoration creates the coziness we secretly want but designers hate because it interferes with an overall design that depends on each element they chose working together. Throw in family photos and their design is off kilter.. With enough money and a few classes, many of us can figure design out. Brilliant design is highly personalized for emotional as well as physical comfort of the individuals living in the home, including adult partners and children and any adult roommates.

[@carolcaruso6641]

My daughter bought me an Aura frame for a gift, and though I like it ok its just another piece of tech in a way, too.There is something about a still photo that goes to the heart, maybe because I'm old(67) and some of the folks in the photos are not with me anymore? Don't know. I love the ones of my then young family too and we are all still here....I love whimsical stuff too, I had a print of a part of a Raphael painting that showed angels (cupids) shooting arrows down that hung over my bed. It was silly and no one saw it but my husband and daughters but I got a chuckle out of it.

[@JaimeLeighArt]

We did a whole home renovation in 2021 and did almost every suggestion you had in this video for our kitchen and you’re absolutely right- every time I walk into my kitchen I feel like I’m in a completely different home than before!

[@jeanvignes]

My mother --- a stained-glass artist and color-theory teacher at the nearby university -- collected random old prisms (e.g. prism-glass dangles from long-gone antique chandeliers being sold for next to nothing at Goodwill or neighborhood antique stores) and she hung them on transparent fishing line at various levels across her kitchen window. The rainbows of light passing from these 20 or so prisms was beautiful, creating almost a kaleidoscope effect on cabinets and walls as the light changed throughout the day. She also installed rolling shades upside down with a small pully at the top of the window for the shades' pull-cords. In this way, she achieved privacy from neighbors or people passing on the sidewalk, while leaving the top 1/3 of the window shades open to let in natural light and to give a clear view of the tree-tops outside. These vignettes of light and shifting greenery were a very lovely addition to each room. My grandmother collected interesting and antique bottles and filled them with colored water (food coloring works fine) and massed them in front of windows or well-lit mirrors to create almost a stained-class effect. None of these ideas are expensive, but they provide a way to bring in color in unique ways without needing to go to the trouble or expense of preparing and painting cabinetry or changing out tile back-splashes or countertops. I use pieces of thick, heavy, hand-made paper from Vietnam to cover the lower panes of glass in one window, to let the light through, illuminating the inclusions (flowers and leaves) embedded in the paper. Here's a link to the store where I bought the hand-made paper, but I'm sure it's available at other specialty stores. Be sure to get the heavy-duty paper, as thinner paper will absorb moisture from condensation on the glass and turn into a saggy mess fairly quickly. www.demedicimingfinepaper.com/

[@newenglandcoast7121]

Am I the only one who wants a Nick Lewis book and perhaps some products like textiles?? 👍👍

[@kamillelord3891]

I recommend upgrading electrical plugs to also have the USB charger option. It comes in handy all the time!

[@carolebuckle7977]

I agree I have done that, so useful as well

[@LesaBear612]

My concern, is that USB is going to be obsolete soon.

[@NoDecaf7]

​@@LesaBear612Yeah, I've had that concern also as we move from USB 2.0/3.0 to double-ended USB-C. Fortunately it's relatively inexpensive to swap those out 😊

[@JaimeLeighArt]

We did this when we renovated and it was definitely a smart decision! However, anytime we go to a hotel or Airbnb now we forget to bring charger heads and kick ourselves 😂

[@CatTempleton]

I legit just put a usb charger thing in the bathroom next to our 1950s medicine cabinet because our *toothbrushes* are now usb only. Ridiculous.

[@fazdoll]

I LOVE the appliance garage at 18:35, because it's set back behind behind the wall somehow. The older garages stuck out from the wall, like just another cabinet sitting at counter level. And had a roll-up door like those Victorian writing desks. It looked almost as bad as the appliance.

[@anitas5817]

I really hate those appliance garages you are referring to. I actually hate any cabinets sitting on the countertop.

[@peztopher7297]

I think you mean at 16:16; the time you posted is when the video ends. I love that! All that stuff is still on the counter, but not visible when you don't need it. The only problem is that it's a waste of space behind the cabinets above. For that reason, I kind of like the roll-up door idea, if you could maybe put tiles or metal slats on each section.

[@kayabe856]

I didn’t put my cabinets to the ceiling but I took my tile to the ceiling… I wanted a mid century feel. I love it!

[@f.m.a.7383]

Of all the home decor videos I've viewed on KZbin, yours stand alone. Thank you!

[@cvonsutphen]

*Toe-kick lighting, panel ready appliances, corral items* . Thank you Nick for another great design tips video. One of the first things I did when I moved into my home seven years ago was install a rope light at the toe-kick in my kitchen. That subtle wash of light made navigating my new space in the middle of the night divine. Panel ready appliances are definitely "Goals", can't imagine doing a kitchen and not including them. Corralling items is a must. I always create a seasonal coffee station on a tray.

[@darthvinawhite]

One thing I haven’t heard mentioned is NOT having wall cabinets! The kitchen in my house was fitted by the previous owner with ONLY below counter cabinets and it’s AMAZING! The room is bright and I have art on the walls! I only have one shelf which has a beautiful piece of art on it! I had to be very strict & cleared out SO much stuff that I didn’t actually need but I don’t miss the “hemmed in” feeling of having a cabinet right in front of your face nor the undignified climbing onto the counter to reach anything in the top of a cabinet!

[@cherylbebbington5835]

Yes! So glad to hear you love it- we are planning no upper cabinets as well- thanks for the boost in confidence

[@rosamcdonald1221]

My kitchen has a tall bookcase where I keep all my cookery books. It's so nice to have them to hand when I am trying to plan dinner. I have 2 botanical prints next to it and the top shelf has some fun things - a statue of the Buddha a friend made for me, a candle, some flowers....

[@erinlikesacornishpasty4703]

It's great to have a bookshelf for your cookbooks. I'm almost at a point where I need to do that because my cabinet where I keep mind is getting too full 🤦‍♀️😊. I enjoy providing nutritious meals for my family and going old school is best for me.

[@JohnMoog-ug6bk]

Anchoring items on tray - what a cheap, actionable idea - will implement next week, thanks

[@carollewis5468]

We had our kitchen updated. I asked for the perimeter cabinets in BM Hollingsworth green and the Island in walnut with brass hardware and faucet, I love it

[@shannonvans]

We are 3/4 of the way through our kitchen renovation, our perimeter cabinets are Moss Green and the island is walnut and I have walnut and brass hardware on all the cabinets. It looks so good!

[@diannemclaren-brighton3145]

I kind of get the whole "put the cabinets to the ceiling" thing, and it does look pretty. But, I just spent waaaay too much money to turn my old, ugly, and impractical kitchen into the kitchen of my dreams. I did not, however even consider the extra expense of cabinets to the ceiling. Why? Because I am 5'2" and there is no way I was going to pay thousands of dollars for cabinets I can't even reach with a stepladder, much less actually put anything in them. So, I now have not-quite-to-the-ceiling cabinets with a few pretty things that I do not need to access on display. It may not be the trendiest thing, but it looks good and works well for a short person.

[@ineedhoez]

Lololol! You can definitely look into the fake ones!

[@melindad7541]

Preach! Us short people get so overlooked! 😂

[@JAlexanderCurtis]

If you google it, what a lot of people do is they make a second layer of cabinets above the first ones with glass panel doors and then just display art or interesting display pieces in there. It's actually a really cool look and you wouldn't ever need to go up there unless you are swapping out a new piece or changing it up seasonally, in which case you get a ladder and do it 2-4 times a year. It's a cool look. You can also just do the faux panel option too and then it is not usable, but still gives you the upscale look and you don't have to ever worry about climbing up there.

[@bugsbunny2357]

At 5'3" I cannot reach all the shelves on my upper cabinets as it is. When I renovated in 2012 I did not opt to change the upper cabinets to go all the way to the ceiling. If I remember right it would have been another $9k and purely aesthetic.

[@Draggonny]

My husband and I are both 5'4" . I insisted that we keep the mock Tudor ceiling beams in our kitchen. The kitchen designers think we're mad, but I'm not paying twice as much to have extra cabinets we'll never use and I love those beams.

[@gloriaalex11]

Love the idea of cabinets to the ceiling, but at 5'4" I already need to stand on a chair to reach the top shelf of my standard cabinets, or the decorative storage baskets above (for seldom-used items). If you plan to "age in place," there will come a time when it is no longer safe to be climbing on chairs or step-stools. I might invest in a small island with storage below.

[@thesender6793]

Just because the shelves are there doesn’t mean you have to fill them.

[@Qtopian]

Another thing i dont think you mentioned specifically but under counter cabinet garbage that you can pull out. It’s a really simple thing to do and for me it’s always the first upgrade that surprisingly lots of people don’t do or think about to do

[@JAlexanderCurtis]

I'm surprised this didn't get mentioned. It is a big difference that is easy and cheap to remedy. I have friends that buy those overpriced "SimpleHuman" garbage cans which are supposed to be "beautiful" and they still look like trash cans and stand out. Why spend $100 on a trash can that only looks slightly better, when you can spend $30 on a pull out and install it under your sink to look 100x better? This is an underrated change that costs (relatively) little to massively elevate your kitchen.

[@Qtopian]

@@JAlexanderCurtis 1000% we wanted a larger trash can and recycling in one cabinet so we converted that cabinet with a rev a shelf style (i think it was this brand or a similar brand). Sure it got rid of some of our cabinet storage but it wasn’t really needed and if we do eventually need more storage we could get an antique cabinet against a free wall. We used to have the 30$ option and put it under our sink when we had an apartment. I think some people get so caught up in the branding of stuff and forget there are other better solutions.

[@mcmccoy1184]

Nick could do an entire video of Anchor Your Items! It’s an art form, and my favorite hint because it combines fun and functional. (I use anchors to camouflage the “outlet acne” on the wall above the kitchen counter.)

[@Mikhaelin]

Can you give a link where I can learn more about this? I'm very curious and my Google search wasn't effective

[@Future-zx9ts]

@@Mikhaelin12:31 in the video

[@melaniebishop480]

My cabinets are horrible but i don't have the $$ to replace them. 2 years ago i replaced my stainless sink with a black granite sink. I also got a high touchless faucet. They make me so happy. I can't hardly wait to fix up the rest of the kitchen. These are some great ideas to remember.

[@clozelleharris4391]

I went to Sherwin Williams and they recommended a color for my kitchen. It was difficult to find someone to install cabinets during the pandemic, so I decided to paint. I absolutely love them and get lots of compliments. I also changed all the pulls.

[@clozelleharris4391]

You might want to look at the kitchen remodels done with Dollar Tree items. We painted our cabinets and added new pulls. It can make a huge difference.

[@allison471]

Love the idea of under cabinet, toe kick and drawer lighting.. thank you Nick 😊✌

[@katrussell6819]

ART! Yes. I have some wonderful pieces in my Kitchen. Makes a huge difference!

[@momcatx2]

We re did our kitchen last year. Skipped all things super trendy; un lacquered brass, giant pendants, super busy stone. It's beautiful. It's sage and white, with a walnut island top. The best thing was running the cabinets to the (9ft) ceiling. Such a huge difference.

[@LSUTigerMom]

How/where did you get your walnut island top? I want to do this so it looks more like a dining table rather than kitchen counter. I just don’t know how to make it happen. Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

[@joyousbloom731]

Love sage

[@momcatx2]

@@LSUTigerMom Our cabinet maker also built tables. He made the top for us. Maybe find a furniture maker in your area.

[@alinatarkhanian]

Hi Nick. I'm a new subscriber. I have been going down the rabbit hole of your videos and love how they're part design education and part humor. Thank you for taking the time to put out this great content for us.

[@missyvanwinkle9247]

Under-counter lighting is USEFUL. It keeps you from chopping off fingertips, helps you measure accurately, AND makes it feel more premium. DO IT.

[@lucybraun8969]

I've already added a new faucet and new drawer and cabinet pulls, but adding toe kick lighting involves quite an electrical cost to make sure no outlets or cords show, so I'm skipping the toe kick lighting. A dimmer light can bring in some of that ambiance that that toe kick lighting might have otherwise provided.

[@poece]

Under cabinet lighting makes such a big difference. Not in just looks but in function. It puts the light right where you need it. I don't always like having my bright overhead lights on. Also, my light switch is in an incovenient spot. I like being able to turn on lights right where I am working. They can be cheap too. I got a couple $20 strip lights of amazon.

[@mktruett]

I chose whites and greys for the structure of my kitchen because I knew we will be here a long time and I would not want to get tired of strong colors in five years (I would) but we do lots of strong color in the decor and appliances

[@Draggonny]

I agree. So much easier to paint walls and change curtains than to paint cabinets. I'm going for cashmere (muted cream) cabinets, but I'm eyeing up a cranberry range cooker.

[@dorotheakuemmel8142]

...all the things bubbling up in the kitchen 😂, always good fun to watch and thank you for good ideas! From Europe😊.

[@melbadorton6679]

When one is replacing the kitchen hardware don’t forget the regular door hinges. Love your videos!

[@tessie7e777]

Exactly what I was looking at in my own kitchen that doesn’t have any drawer or door pulls.

[@efitz3397]

My kitchen is 16 years old, I still love it. Off white cabinets haven’t dated. I updated my faucet and regularly change decor on a couple of open shelves. I keep it very tidy and clean. I mix up by adding lamps, plants and flowers every now and then. . Love you ideas.

[@Tanae19]

Neutral wall paint color, white cabinets, same color metals -faucet and drawer pulls, under cabinet light. Cheapest upgrades 🤷‍♀️

[@DFBurgermeister]

My kitchen reno starts in only 3 weeks and I’m so glad I thought about many of the items you are recommending. Upgraded faucet, high-end hardware, cabinets to the 9 ft ceiling, under cab lighting and in the upper most cabinets (glass front), and a dark blue island (all other cabs are soft white). I’m also using drawers for the lower cabinets. I think they are much more functional. Adding panels to the dishwasher and fridge was outside my budget, but you can’t see the dishwasher unless you are inside the kitchen. I’ll be replacing my fridge in 2-3 years and will have it paneled. I’m getting rid of the ‘over the range’ microwave and making it a built in next to the fridge. I’m also adding an appliance garage - something I’ve always wanted. I’m looking forward to decorating after the kitchen is done. Thank you for the wonderful advise you give.

[@Liam_Maddog]

If you have a 9 foot kitchen ceiling, I would think twice about running my cabinets all the way to the top. It’s fine for a kitchen with an 8 foot ceiling.

[@lonelywife7468]

A lot of the kitchen inspo out there uses functional pieces that double as decor (like rustic style cutting boards, vintage style kettles, etc) and I never thought about adding non-functional pieces of art. Thank you Nick! A whole new world has opened in front of my eyes.

[@pamw8102]

Love your advice and love that you get to the point so quickly. 👏👏 Even if you use your toaster every day, put it on a sheet pan (mine fits on 1/4 sheet pan) or other tray and put it away! It takes less time to get it out than it takes to clean the crumbs on the counter! Then dump the tray crumbs, quick and easy. Toasters left plugged in can be a real fire hazard, putting them away reminds you to unplug it. 🥰

[@deemaxwell4172]

What a great idea! Am so darn tired of sesame sesame everywhere from my bagels, now I'll be able to curtail that mess.

[@YanickFM]

The kitchen in my apartment is 5'x12' and has no counter space so im pretty limited. But i did paint the backsplash bright green and i actually really love it. The color idea works imo.

[@curiousworld7912]

I think you made excellent points throughout. Some of these suggestions were simple common sense, as well as good advice - like cleaning the kitchen up - and, some were more 'Oh, yes, I can see that.', which made for both an entertaining and nicely informative video. Thanks, as always - you're a pleasure to watch. :)

[@KatSchlitz]

Can you do a video (very soon!) about tile choices for kitchens? I know you have had some shorts, but I am really trying to choose a beautiful look for our kitchen remodel, for a kitchen that is the room you enter from the front door (after a small entry), and I am trying to choose something timeless yet not boring, something artistic but not wacky. Can. you do a kitchen tile video of all types, stone and terracotta and glass and so on? Combining disparate types and bringing in artistry?

[@wisteria808]

Wow -- when you switched on the under-counter lighting, it really did add a lot of ambience. I have 10 ft. ceilings in the kitchen; not sure what to do with the existing cabinets to make them look up-to-date.

[@rosamcdonald1221]

When we bought our house the kitchen was painted bright sky blue with a gloss finish. The first morning I came down to get coffee and went aagghh when I turned the lights on. It's now painted a calm restful dark sage green and it is so much better.

[@joannacummins4839]

Art in the kitchen? Absolutely!

[@catherinafriederikehaags3626]

Hi Nick, I am in dire need of a video from you about bathrooms especially bathroom fixtures ❤❤❤ PLEASE 🥺

[@tessaritter5339]

Hello from an European follower. Thank you for this video. My grandparents had a paneled frigde as long as I can remember. But I don't see that very often today sadly.

[@FionaApplewright]

Pendant lighting in an open space can create an almost disappearing wall affect between 2 separate rooms, like if your kichen borders your dining or living room with a bar, and you have pendant lights above the bar, turning them on and off opens and closes the space between the rooms. Living room and kitchen light on, bar lights off feels more like 2 rooms, just the bar or all 3 lights on makes it one large space

[@maukasara808]

We bought a house with a galley kitchen. They had dark cabinets all the way to the ceiling. In this scenario it looked super small and cramped. We put in ones didn’t go all the way up. We put a very light wood and the space at the ceiling actually added dimension to the very narrow design.

[@Chaotic_Pixie]

Trays and Lazy Susans are a HUGE boon for those with ADHD too. In the fridge, on the counter, in the pantry, in the bathroom... I love a beautiful, polished wood lazy susan for your olive oil, vinegar, salt jar, pepper mill... any seasonings you use daily or nearly daily (that coveted Everything But the Bagel seasoning). Another great opportunity to add function & art to the kitchen is how you store your cooking utensils. A beautiful handmade ceramic vase is a wonderful option. I also think smaller appliances can look nice if you choose them well & organize them. I actually love seeing my Keurig all nice and pretty next to my coffee canisters. I also think my electric kettle is really pretty too. It looks so nice sitting next to my mahogany knife block. Oh! I also love a plastic, clear lazy susan in the fridge for condiments so you don't have to pull things out to get to what you want. In the bathroom, I use a simple tray to coral the toothpaste, tooth brushes, my inhaler, his beard comb... the little bits that we need daily. (there's no drawers & no medicine cabinet). I also use a lazy susan in the other bathroom for my skincare. It's beautiful olive green & gold. Placed it on top of stackable drawer to keep things I use weekly, but not daily.

[@Chaotic_Pixie]

Little touches also make a space feel expensive. Gap filler cabinetry that houses cookie sheets. Pull out shelves for lower cabinets. Spice rack built into a cabinet door. The Lazy Susan corner cabinet is AMAZING! I also think a really nice pot rack is cool. It's functional and if you have nice pans, it works as art too.. especially if it's not a basic one but maybe, custom welded.

[@shannon8485]

Currently in the middle of a kitchen reno myself. We knocked out walls, a closet installed a 23 ft support beam. The approach i took was making it functional for my 5'2 height! Im pushing 40 the days of climbing or getting out a latter to get something like seasoning is something im just done with! My kitchen is L shaped and i went dark gray shaker base cabinets with matt gold pulls. The short part of the L is where i have my uppers and i love them because they are white with glass fronts, vintage glass knobs, and they sit on our dove gray quartz countertop and go all the way to the ceiling beside them is our fridge that is also incased with white side panels and upper cabinet. By the time its all said and done we'll have spent 25k😢. However im never doing this again unless absolutely necessary so im picking things i think will age well.

[@JeanVMI]

I love your freakin’ videos! You’re the best. 😃so fun to watch! I’ve been a kitchen and bath designer for 29 years and you’re on point sir ❤🎉🤓🙌👏🏠

[@julietaillefer5230]

Getting ready for a major kitchen renovation. Original kitchen built in 2006 with that “Tuscan” orange undertone cabinetry just had to go. I appreciate your tips and tricks into making my new kitchen and by extension my open concept(living room/dinning room and kitchen) small bungalow more cohesive, elegant and punching everything up in terms luxury and of what it is I am trying to make my home “feel” like. Thank you NIck.

[@shelaghjackson9577]

Love colour. We redid our kitchen two years ago….navy blue lower cabinets, just-off -white uppers. White quartz countertops, nickel hardware, pale green glass backsplashes, ss appliances, darker LVP flooring.. Accents are green or yellow….towels, soap, etc. We love it. (Used wine corks in a dish ( coordinating of course) keep away fruit flies….)

[@theresakohler-ruda1292]

So happy you had the art talk with us... best kitchens I have cleaned and staged - all - had unique art included/displayed. Hope the house/apt. sale brings relief. Valued $

[@happyx2]

Love the idea of having art in the kitchen. Thank you, Nick!

[@ratnaali8206]

Love Nick ideas Straight forward, realistic and mostly make sense. I love it

[@lucybraun8969]

Since my kitchen is small, and has no kitchen island, I opted for a pendant that has a shorter 8" cord. It works great for task lighting, yet still gives a pendant vibe.

[@huson-7wk]

I just renord my kitchen and IMO it is gorgeous. It is exactly what I have always imagied it could be. However going with paneled appliances eould have been more expensive than all my custom cabinets and I just didn't see the need. IMO my fridge is beautiful and I want it to be seen. My csbinets do not go to the ceiling because my ceiling slopes and putting useless bits of "boxes" above my custom cabinets would have looked ridiculous and again an expensive option. As it is I need a stool to access my top cabinets. Everyone's kitchen and the space it inhabits are different and often unique. People have told me thst mine looks like a million bucks. I don't care whether it looks expensive or not. I adore what I now have and it is a joy to work in. To me that is all that counts. However Nick enjoyed your presentation.😊

[@jeanettepugh6017]

Countertop space is sacred! Knives, coffee maker, done. And I have a ton of countertop space! Simply prefer the look and easier to clean. BTW, absolutely love your presentations. You are always mindful of people, their feelings and their budgets. Thank you.

[@LDSW]

I added color in my neutral colored kitchen through cookware pieces on floating shelves on one wall of the box bay window, art prints on the wall that feature dashes of the cookware color (Le Creuset Flame), and a plant wall across the shelves on the other side of the box bay window, since my kitchen is considered small at about 11 ft 6 in x 11 ft 9 in.

[@clarkjojo005]

Yes totally agree with these “how to make your Kitchen look more Expensive” and my friend has just changed her kitchen island top. Left the other black stone tops but changed the island to a black and white textured stone top. Love it, is this a new trend also. If you can afford this it is wonderful. Makes quite a distinction between the areas..like when people put a large farmhouse wooden table in the kitchen to work from…

[@isabelballester]

European viewer here, paneled appliances are amazing and so are your videos, Nick!

[@jennysedgley8284]

I just renovated my kitchen & followed a lot of these tips. The kitchen looks great & it didn't cost a fortune

[@TheCrowsNest1950]

Hi Nick, The wood panel matched kitchen in the video shows miss matched grain from the door to the drawer below. (11:39) It is only available in custom cabinets. We have explored every company to get that look to no avail, and they are pushing us to Shaker which does not work in a mid-century restoration. Mark & Scott

[@TracyPell5]

Nick, thank you so much for your great ideas. My husband and I are building our forever home. My kitchen cabinet are going to be a beautiful navy blue with cabinets to the ceiling with glass in the upper cabinets. I was already planning on having task lighting but I love your idea for toekick lighting and will incorporate that. The island is 9 feet long and I am having trouble finding pendant lighting that I really like. I am going to have a very large pantry that includes the microwave and coffee maker as we don't use them daily and have only one 9 ft wall (with cooktop) of counter. Would you recommend putting our toaster oven in the pantry also for the same reason? Thanks again for your informative videos.

[@33Jenesis]

I stir fry or pan fry a lot, impossible to keep kitchen looking shiny. The greased air plus dust is so hard to get rid off. I do try to keep things out if counter if not frequently used. No wonder some people remodel kitchen and baths every so often :)

[@utahdan231]

Washing after helps a lot.

[@33Jenesis]

@utahdan231 You either don’t stir fry or have never dealt with greased air. It lands everywhere when there is a surface. I do major cleaning 4 times a year, taking down everything and spread degreaser even on ceiling.

[@brockreynolds870]

Some people will probably lose their minds when I mention what I have in my kitchen. MIRROR backsplash. I also have clerestory mirrors above the cabinets. Love the reflection of my glittered popcorn ceiling.

[@br4653]

We are redoing our kitchen cabinets now. My husband is spraying them & does a wonderful job! I picked a soft sage green. Counters & backsplash are fairly new. Needed to update the cabinets & decor😀

[@DrValerie800]

I LOVE appliance garages! I do a lot of gourmet cooking (yes, every day) so I have quite a few appliances that need to be easily accessible. Unfortunately, my tiny condo has no such capability for that. My prep space is about 1.5 ft x 0.5 ft 🙄But when I had a really big house (with a 1,000sf kitchen), I had appliance garages, along with other frivolous things like drawers...and cupboards with adjustable shelves...and a sink big enough to hold big stockpots. Oh well; at least I know what I want in the next house!

[@tinywalnut6337]

I LOVE those over the door cabinet organizers!! I use them for everything. They're super convenient.

[@gioiamt1]

Lol... I usually play most these types of videos at 1.5 speed.... no need with Nick's (much appreciated). Plan to work on the "anchoring" (no cost!) tomorrow. And art in the kitchen? Always and forever!

[@homejournalist]

I love the concept of paneled appliances. Sadly, in the U.S. it doesn’t just look expensive, it is expensive. Will go for it though on the next kitchen renovation. Right now I’m trying to replace appliances in our existing kitchen layout and it’s not fun trying to find items to fit our space.

[@aksez2u]

Plus, the planned obsolescence of high-tech, sensitive major appliances these days makes having them paneled seem like a very bad idea. Even a $4000 refrigerator will only last a few years. Very discouraging. I suggest going as low-tech as possible, even in a high end kitchen.

[@leontinehillenaar423]

Panelled appliances are easier in Europe because they usually come in the same suze as your cabinets. Even Ikea has sutions for this. You buy the special cabinet pop in the fridge or freezer and mount the door on hindges and attach it to the appliance door with special hardware. But frudges generally are smaller than in the US, built in or not.

[@delma6301]

I love white cabinets and kitchen.

[@annethompson1666]

Fabulous advice, thanks Nick. I’m a designer and found your comments and ideas inspiring.

[@Coffeeisbrewing]

I love the modern appliance garage! I remember they used to be small and looked out dated.

[@AimeeMusk]

Hey Nick, you always provide useful tips and I enjoyed your contents and your sense of humour so much ! Keep up the good work ❤

[@MinkaSchlossberger4ever]

Thank You for dealing out a lot of advice for our well-being...finding some one s own style, and knowing, where to spend our money..helps a lot ...in a psychological, and practical way!!! And all this for free....Like a class in home-design!!!! I am sure, Your House will be gorgeous...!!!

[@joannacurran8475]

Change the outlet covers to match tiles.

[@kts8900]

I made matching covers for my appliances out of old sheets - great way to add color!

[@donhigdon3356]

Nick!!! Nice shirt.;) Again we have such similar taste. I think it's interesting that you're such a fan of the toe kick lighting. I reticently built a new home and while it's nice it's not "custom", and while I upgraded my cabinets the don't go the ceiling (which is 10ft). I enjoy the decor above the cabinets and I installed up-lighting that highlights the space and decor. In addition to the under cabinet lighting illuminating the counters I felt the lighting above the cabinets is far more impact-full than the toe kick lighting. I also did custom backsplash tile to the ceiling around the vent hood chimney (something the builder wouldn't do). Love your videos!

[@d.vaders1178]

Just a thought on kitchen faucets…we have country homes with well water, one has acidic water, one has really mineral rich water (lime, calcium, mangnesium…heavy scale producing). We also have a city townhome with “city” water. The town home has only gone through 1 faucet in 14 years. The country homes though really go through faucets. We started with cheap faucets but we’re replacing them every year. We up’d our budget and bought the high quality Kohler ones with ceramic guts and they have lasted several years now and still look good. The first one is going on 7 years and just beginning to show its age. We are skilled at general house maintenance and can do our own plumbing installs, but if you need to hire a plumber for faucet installation, you will be big money ahead by choosing the more costly quality faucet. (We are building another home now Sept 2024. Our contractor bid included $375 plumber fee to install kitchen faucet and dishwasher. Bathroom was $575 for a toilet & sink and $775 for bath #2 of shower, sink, toilet.) Plumbers are expensive, so do it right the first time if you are not a diy’er to save money in the long run.

[@epicrandomness101]

Why is it always 12:16 on your clock?? I love everything in this video…especially the advice about lighting! Thank you

[@NoDecaf7]

I like the ideas you have and really love reading the comments of your videos. Everyone here is so creative and they have such great opinions 😊

[@rachelcrossen8136]

Nick I’m curious what you do with dishsoap and sponge. Use every day but hate the look of them.

[@bricksloth6920]

If you have to work with that builder grade metal sink with the holes, please listen to me now. Replace the builder grade faucet set with one that has the spray hose thing even if it doesn't get enough water pressure to be useful. So that last hole looks intentional, because it looks dreadful and collects crud from the universe if you don't.

[@jaycarver4886]

I would choose a faucet that is wall mounted. No splashes or hard water and soap scum build-up to clean. But you'd also need a sink without the holes. More costly in the beginning but probably worth it in the long run...at least for me!

[@evabuczek]

Oh darling, they are standarized - they all fit to the panels 😁 greetings from Poland

[@utahdan231]

What is standardized, dearest?

[@evabuczek]

@@utahdan231 they have all the same dimentions. So if you choose a dishwasher 45 for example, panels in all kitchen systems will fit. Similarily for other appliances

[@ladybugmom10]

I love my new kitchen faucet! I only paid $40 for it on Amazon. It pulls down, it’s big too. I’m also changing out all the cabinet hardware for around $50. It’s so worth it!

[@adriennecozyhomelife]

Omg!! Nick !! I love your channel!! You are really providing interior design tips and ideas of real value in a short amount of time, this is beyond education, I have tried your designs tips in my home and they have helped me elevate my 32 year home, in a short amount time and within a budget!! Thanks so much!! So talented!!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@Mleencihols]

Nick ...you are the best. I always look forward to your videos. And your suggestions and ideas are so point on.

[@crystalrowan]

When we remodeled our kitchen, I ended up commissioning some art glass pulls/handles for my cabinets and drawers from a small glass artist whose shop I stumbled across on a trip and they are without a doubt my favorite "decor" thing in my kitchen. And they weren't even that expensive! But they are completely custom. Sadly her shop is now closed but I know there are many similar shops/artists out there and it's something I honestly never would have thought of doing until I saw some of her sample handles in her shop. Fun way to support small artists and also add custom/unique features to your kitchen (or bathroom for that matter).

[@Argentina3825]

I love how fun you are, I can’t believe how fast you speak!😂😂 the light under the cabinet in you kitchen looks great, it really made a difference after you turned it on. Thanks for all your advice. Keep it on…