Complete Kitchen Design: Finishing Touches and Accessories

Your kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home. It’s a space for entertaining, spending time with family, and making wonderful memories. So it’s no surprise that when homeowners are designing or improving their homes, the kitchen is one of the most common areas to consider. 

Whether you’re considering a full remodel with top-of-the-line appliances, or simply put in the finishing touches of home décor and personality, you can do so much with your kitchen. Keep reading as we explore some of the finishing touches,details, and accessories we love to add to the beautiful kitchens we design for our clients.

Kitchen Cabinetry Finishes and Hardware

Cabinets are often the first thing you notice when you walk into a kitchen. From modern coastal or Tuscan contemporary interior designs, so many colors, styles, and finishes to choose from, you can really let your personality and interior design style shine here.

You can also show off your personality with your cabinet finishes and your hardware selection. Woodwork detailing is one way to put the finishing touches on your kitchen. Browse our bespoke cabinetry portfolio images for inspiration! Custom hardware is another option. You can go glamorous with polished brass hardware, which looks especially lovely when paired with crisp marble countertops. Chrome is another great choice and looks beautiful next to stainless steel appliances. Don’t be afraid to mix hardware finishes! 

Kitchen Trim and Molding

Beautiful trim and molding is a design element that may not be immediately picked up by the eye (unless you’re an interior designer who notices every detail!), but it’s an understated element that can really make or break the room. 

Crown molding is a popular option for finishing the tops of kitchen wall cabinets. It adds a decorative finishing touch that really pulls the kitchen design together. The shape and style of the molding will enhance the overall design and draw the eye upward so that your kitchen looks bigger. It can also be used functionally, in scenarios where your cabinets aren’t tall enough to reach the ceiling and you need to cover the remaining space. 

Another consideration is light rail molding, which is used to finish the bottom of your cabinets. This can be used as a purely decorative element, or as a more functional addition, such as if you need to conceal or add a barrier alongside toe kick lighting.

Moving down to the floor, you have choices for the molding underneath your cabinets, as well. Base molding typically acts as a decorative element, pulling together the look and feel so your lower cabinets and/or kitchen island has a finished feel to it. 

A toe kick is another option, which is used to create a recessed area beneath your cabinets, so you can stand closer to the countertop as you prep your meals. 

Finally, don’t forget window casings also make beautiful kitchen finishing touches!

Kitchen Lighting

Lighting is oh-so-important for your kitchen space, even if you have plenty of natural light coming through. Here you can showcase your personality and show off the shape and style of the space. If your kitchen is long and narrow, beautiful pendant lights down the center of the ceiling make a great addition. Pendant lights come in many different styles, including traditional, industrial, or modern. For a luxurious and upscale look, as in the below traditional and modern home, consider a gorgeous linear chandelier above your kitchen island. 

Under-cabinet lighting is great as well, and there are many high-tech options that allow you to control or dim your lighting via remote control.

Kitchen Appliances

Of course, your kitchen will have appliances. We love strategically choosing these so they fit with your aesthetic and style. More people are looking for panel-ready appliances because they allow you to hide your appliances with beautiful custom cabinetry. Stainless steel is also a popular option for refrigerators, cooktops, ovens, and more, especially for luxury kitchens. It’s a durable option and although it’s known for showing fingerprints, it’s very easy to clean. Pair your stainless steel appliances with a large basin sink with a pull-down or touchless faucet.

Another one of our favorite interior design tips is to keep functionality in mind at all times. Make sure your appliances allow for an easy flow throughout the kitchen as you’re preparing meals and entertaining guests. We recommend determining the ideal kitchen layout first and then choosing appropriate appliances that fit into the layout. 

Pops of Color

A neutral color palette for your kitchen can be trendy, but don’t be afraid to add some pops of color to show off your style. This can be done with simple interior design elements like a soft runner, elegant kitchen towels, or bar stools with patterned upholstery. Smaller decor items, like a beautiful basket of citrus or a floral arrangement, make elegant finishes to place on the kitchen island.

Tile is another wonderful option to play up your personality. Neutral isn’t always the way to go with your tiles! Since a backsplash is a relatively small space in your kitchen, it’s a great place to add a pop of color.

Put The Finishing Design Touches on Your Kitchen

With these tips in mind, you can design the perfect kitchen that’s both functional and an inspiring place to entertain guests and make memories with your family. With our extensive background and expertise, Kern & Co. is ready to help you along the way. See why we’re one of the best interior designers in San Diego.

Are you ready to transform your home? Contact us today and our team will reach out as soon as we can.