Apartmentherapy explains why a simple, inexpensive change to your kitchen cabinets can make all the difference.

Apartment Therapy highlights 5 kitchen trends according to Pinterest. The highlights are:

• Dark cabinetery
• Wooden cupboards
• White counter tops
• Green
• Open shelves

Haha! I’m just wrapping up my kitchen renovations. My cupboards are white, the countertop is black, and there are no open shelves. Of course, I’m not typically a fan of trends. Following trends can be fun, but it can also be pricey as it can date your space, and only if you have money to replace your sage green appliances should they be followed.

Apartment therapy has put together a list of 9 kitchen trends to avoid:

• Frosted or shaded light fixtures
• Granite countertops
• Traditional woodgrain cabinets
• Open shelving
• Closed-off kitchens
• Dark paint and wood
• DIY backsplashes and cabinets
• Ornate anything
• Mismatched styles

A couple startled me, a couple not. Frosted or shaded light fixtures. I’m not sure I understand that one. I’m startled to find that granite countertops are out! I was steered towards quartz when I remodeled my kitchen, not from an in or out point of view but from a maintenance point of view. Woodgrain cabinets – that’s not surprising. Open shelving – that was surprising but I can see where that could be a trend. Closed-off kitchens – I’m still a fan of closed-off kitchens in some instances but… Dark paint – not a big fix! Ornate anything – not surprising. Mismatched styles – an interesting one meaning that the kitchen should be in the similar spirit as the rest of the house.

CBC.ca conducted a survey which found “that more than three-quarters of respondents have had a large household appliance break down, and 75 per cent of those products were said to be 10 years old or less.” It’s a sad state of affairs isn’t it. I’ve often heard it said that these appliances are designed to konk out just after their warranty expires. This corroborates what I’ve heard.

Let’s not look at the snow flying around outside, let’s instead focus on these new KitchenAid bowls introduced to celebrate their centenial. Part of the spring-summer release they should cheer you up.