One of these days, you will probably gaze around your kitchen and realize it's time for a change. Maybe you did a redo 10 or 15 years ago in stylish all-white. Clean and sparkling, and very trendy, but now you're starting to wish for something warmer for that house you bought from Beavercreek homes for sale a while back. Nothing wrong with a change, but what should it be?

We think you should ignore some common kitchen design myths so you can home in on what you really want and not go with the trends. So here's some advice from our REALTORS® that should make things easier.

1. You have to have an L-shaped kitchen.
   Yes, most everyone does. But you don't have to. While there's nothing terribly wrong with it, the main drawback is an awkward corner. Some of the slightly weird remedies that designers come up with to compensate are pie-shaped spinning shelves, custom pullouts, and other difficult-to-access options. Have access to a good designer? Discuss an open concept that eliminates the weird angle. It's possible you can work in a bigger island and a work space that is more functional. Or, a floor-to-ceiling cabinet wall might be the solution that eliminates the awkward corner.
   
   
2. Your kitchen needs to be brilliantly stark white.
   Sure, the white kitchen is as beautiful as it was touted to be when the trend first launched some years ago. But it really is OK to welcome your family to what's likely the heart of the house with warm colors, eye-grabbing patterns, textures, and designs -- and some pops of color. At any rate, some kitchen experts say white isn't and wasn't just a trend. They say it's been a viable choice for more than 100 years, but it's not for everyone. Wood cabinets are still an excellent choice if that's what you crave, as are painted ones in deep blues, grays, and mint greens. 
   
   
3. Your cabinets must be 2-feet deep.
   Most of us aren't using our cabinets as efficiently as we could — or perhaps they should be designed differently. We use the first 12 inches of cabinet depth in a 2-ft. deep cabinet, and put the things we use most often at the front. We dump the big items or those we don't use so often in the back. Nowadays, the trend is for larger island space, and those deep cabinets help accommodate larger countertops. But deeper storage can be difficult to use. Maybe you should try taller wall cabinets with 1-foot deep storage spaces — that's right, a veritable wall of cabinets. It could make storage more accessible, and leave room for a larger island. 
   
   
4. You should scrimp on materials.
   Kitchen renovations can be quite expensive — on average, $26,000. If you're looking for someplace to scrimp, do not let it be on materials for your flooring, countertops, or backsplash. Let's talk about those countertops. We suggest you go for quartz at the least, although many say that marble is worth the extra cost. For the flooring, opt for hardwood or quality tile. For the backsplash, consider ceramic or porcelain tile; glass tile (costs more but it's easy to keep clean); copper tiles (easy to tarnish); natural stone, such as travertine (expensive!); faux metal tiles made of thermoplastic; and manufactured stone veneer (beautiful but costly, hard to maintain).

Questions about upgrades? Our REALTORS® can help. Contact Wright-Patt Realty.