Everyone knows some of the most buoyant moments in life can be found in the details. Who could blame you if you want to feel some of that buoyancy in the kitchen, where you spend so much time?

Whether you're finishing a kitchen remodeling project or just want to stir things up so you have something new to look at while you cook dinner, five detail-minded design tips recommended by kitchen designers are sure to inspire double-takes:

1. Update your knobs and pulls

It's common to install pulls on drawers and knobs on cabinets. But this guideline didn't “come down from the mountain”; many people stay with the norm or use one or the other on every drawer and cabinet. With so many types of pulls to choose from – including cup pulls, drop and bail pulls, flush pulls and ring pulls – updating your kitchen hardware is one of the easiest ways to reinvigorate a kitchen. If you're daring, install contemporary hardware on traditional cabinets – or vice versa. Mixing styles is called transitional design, and it's eye-catching because it bucks the norm.

2. Add a second sink

Even if every square inch in your kitchen is accounted for, try to find room for a prep sink – around a corner, tucked in a butler's pantry or added to an island. Imagine having a prep sink for washing and cutting fruits, vegetables, meat, fish and chicken while the bigger sink in your kitchen is used only to soak and wash dishes. The tasks are separated, and so are the people performing them. It sounds like a luxury, but adding a second sink is a smart idea that breeds efficiency.

3. Build a garage to “park” appliances 

This is a fun project for do-it-yourselfers. Look for a spot against the backsplash to create a housing unit with a sliding door. Stowing countertop appliances in a garage allows you to pull them out when you need them and keep them out of sight when you don't. Because they're hidden behind a door, you can park appliances right next to each other, without worrying about giving them the space they need if they were on full display on a counter.

4. Conceal the dishwasher with “paneling” that matches your cabinets 

You may love the look of your stainless-steel dishwasher. And it probably does complement its surroundings. But a “cover” that matches the cabinets provides an incomparably seamless and upscale look.

5. Welcome the light – and dark – with duo shades

Shades usually offer a take-it-or-leave-it proposition: let in the sun or block it entirely. Duo shades offer a choice since they are made with sheer or sun-control fabric and blackout fabric in the same shade. Duo shades can fit on windows as small as 30 inches to 14 feet wide. They can be opened and closed with a remote control or wireless wall switch.

Install Window Shades in Your Home Today

Make an appointment for a free in-home consultation with a window expert from Polar Shades and learn how a duo shade teems with the details that can fill you -- and your home -- with buoyancy. Contact Polar Shades at 702-260-6110 to get started today.