If you’ve ever bought antique furniture or an old house, you’ve probably been asked the question: Does it have “good structure”? This expression is similar to the old adage “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” What it means is that if the foundation of a structure is good to begin with, you can easily upgrade it back to its original shine to last a lifetime. But like all good things, you have to start with a solid core. The same can be said for his kitchen when he’s tackling a remodel, which was the premise behind a recent “Chicago Tribune” article titled “Nate’s Approach: Build Good Bones.” The Nate the article is talking about? None other than the usual Oprah, interior designer Nate Berkus.

Subtitled “How to Design a Timeless Classic Kitchen,” the story offered a list of ingredients and some styling tips for a kitchen makeover that never goes out of style. However, before delving into Berkus’s suggestions, the article pointed to “Remodeling” magazine’s “Cost vs. Value” annual report to pinpoint the price of a major kitchen remodel in 2008-2009 at a whopping $ 56,661. Faced with a price tag like that, you’ll want to make sure your kitchen remodeling efforts are ones that will stand the test of time.

“The ideal is that [your kitchen remodel] it should look as sharp and attractive in a couple of decades as the day the renovation team retires,” the article emphasizes. But how to accomplish this formidable feat? This is Berkus’ top tip: Your kitchen “beautiful bone structure.”

Aside from tearing your house apart and starting over or adding to it, there are parts of your house that aren’t going to change. “The entire Berkus team considers floors and other immutable materials to be ‘the bones’ of a house, and they see it as their job to build bones that are timeless.”

In Berkus’s opinion, what are timeless bones?

1. White or red oak floors for their robustness and ability to age gracefully.

2. Marble on countertops

3. Shaker-style cabinets, which have avoided trends and managed to last almost forever while remaining classic.

4. Upper glass cabinets, “which provide a lighter air to the room”

5. A tile backsplash

6. White and gray paint.

7. Polished nickel hardware

8. Stainless steel appliances

“With these [elements] As Contenders Foundation, Berkus, and his team assert, homeowners can change things in the future by manipulating less permanent details, such as chair cushions, curtains, and accessories,” the article concludes.

Now the challenge remains to find and put all these elements together in a kitchen remodel that will never go out of style. An online kitchen supercenter can provide you with kitchen remodeling ideas and links to manufacturers of Armstrong hardwood flooring, DuPont countertops, KraftMaid cabinetry, Florida Tile, Behr premium paint, Liberty Hardware and GE appliances, all in one convenient location. By exploring their sample layouts, tips, and information, you can plan your goals, measure your space correctly, plan your storage, and manage your overall remodel.