Kitchen design tips from HGTV experts

Sarah Richardson, host of HGTV's Sarah's House

Photo: Bjorn Wallander. From: HGTV Magazine

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Sarah Richardson, Sarah's House

"Not every kitchen redo involves a gut job. I say, 'Love what you have, and make it look new!' We updated these drab wood cabinets with paint and gave the room a retro diner vibe," says Sarah.

Photo: Stacey Brandford/Sublime Management. From: HGTV Magazine

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Colors and Countertops

"Dark wood islands have been a recurring kitchen trend for a decade, but why not be a little daring and do something light and bright? This one's small, so it can easily be repainted another color if the urge strikes. I love natural stone and I always will, but I have quartz in my own kitchens, and I recommend it to clients, too. It's super durable, and heat- and scratch-resistant — plus, it doesn't stain, and it comes in tons of colors," says Sarah. Get the look: Breath of Fresh Air paint color by Benjamin Moore

White Kitchen With Mosaic Tile Backsplash and Blue Accents

Photo: Stacey Brandford/Sublime Management . From: HGTV Magazine

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Cabinets

"Drawers can be more expensive to build than cabinets, but I find they're more versatile and less likely to become a disorganized mess. For extra storage in this kitchen, I used inexpensive wooden stair treads from Lowe's to create open shelving in front of the sunny window," says Sarah.

Photo: Stacey Brandford/Sublime Management . From: HGTV Magazine

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Lighting

"A kitchen without pendants can feel institutional, but add too many and you have a lighting showroom! That's where recessed ceiling lights — to illuminate work zones — pick up the slack," says Sarah. Get the look: Kichler Fresnel Lens pendant in polished nickel, $253, lampsplus.com

Photo: Stacey Brandford/Sublime Management . From: HGTV Magazine

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Floors

"Know your limits, both financially and functionally. We replaced the existing linoleum floor in here with marbled-finish Marmoleum tiles. Changing to stone would have raised the height of the floor and crept into the baseboards, and it would've cost double," says Sarah. Get the look: Marmoleum Click vinyl tile, from $7 per square foot, forbo-flooring.com for buying info

Photo: Stacey Brandford/Sublime Management. From: HGTV Magazine

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Backsplash

"Here's the place to make a statement and tie your whole color scheme together. This mosaic tile — a mix of glass and stone — had all the colors we used in the room, and it came in 12-inch x 12-inch sheets that were easy to install without any special cuts," says Sarah. Get the look: Merola Rustica subway porcelain tile in neptune blue, $17 per sheet (11¾" x 11¾"), homedepot.com

Photo: Matt Harbicht/Getty Images for HGTV. From: HGTV Magazine

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Meg Caswell, Meg's Great Rooms

Meg says, "Just because a kitchen is a functional space doesn't mean it can't be fun. It should reflect your personality: If you love to throw parties, make it party central!"

Photo: Jean-Marc Giboux/Getty Images for HGTV. From: HGTV Magazine

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Colors

"I like kitchens to have a sophisticated feel. So here we did rich gray on the cabinets but added color with a fuchsia-red glass backsplash that extends all the way up to the ceiling behind the range. The floral Roman shade on the window adds a little more color to the space, and the butcher-block island calms down the palette," says Meg. Get the look: Galveston Gray by Benjamin Moore; window shade fabric, Zahara in Raspberry by Fabricut

Bold Kitchen With Gray Cabinets and a Red Glass Backsplash

Photo: Jean-Marc Giboux/Getty Images for HGTV. From: HGTV Magazine

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Cabinets

"If I'm building custom cabinetry, I love to specialize it with dividers and rollout devices. But in this room, we kept a lot of the existing cabinets, so I added function with really cool backsplash organizers. They store everyday items like spoons and spices while keeping the counters clear," says Meg.

White Marble Kitchen Countertops Against Red Backsplash

Photo: Jean-Marc Giboux/Getty Images for HGTV. From: HGTV Magazine

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Counters

"Carrera marble has an elegant look that goes with everything. People shy away from marble because they think it can be hard to keep up, but it's actually an extremely lasting material, and history proves it: Europeans have been using it for thousands of years! Sure, it absorbs stains, but I think that just adds to its pretty patina," says Meg.

Red Contemporary Kitchen With Metal Pendant Light and Wood Island

Photo: Jean-Marc Giboux/Getty Images for HGTV. From: HGTV Magazine

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Lighting

"I always use can lighting above the counters, plus under-cabinet lights so the prep space is illuminated. But I never miss a chance for a decorative fixture in a kitchen, like a striking chandelier over the island," says Meg. Get the look: Haggas pendant lamp, $60, IKEA stores

Contemporary Kitchen With Red Backsplash and Marble Countertops

Photo: Jean-Marc Giboux/Getty Images for HGTV. From: HGTV Magazine

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Appliances and Backsplash

"You don't have to stick to one suite if the individual appliances don't suit your needs, but stay with one finish and style of handle to tie everything together. As for the backsplash, tempered glass that's painted from behind has a smooth, solid color throughout. And it's amazingly functional: Just spray it with glass cleaner and run a cloth over it," says Meg.

Kitchen Cousins, John Colaneri and Anthony Carrino

Photo: Christopher Amaral Photography/HGTV. From: HGTV Magazine

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John Colaneri and Anthony Carrino, Kitchen Cousins

"We design a lot of "transitional" kitchens: They're in between traditional and contemporary, which is easy to live with for a long time," say John and Anthony.