Modern kitchen design trends
A new style of cooking
Homeowners are beginning to move away from the very sleek, minimalist look to a warmer, more welcoming look that reflects their own styles. This has seen the birth of a new style of cooking: a fusion of modern and traditional elements.
The modern traditional style mixes colors, textures and materials. It is now common for contrasting materials to be worn side by side; textured wood or stainless steel with marble, or mirrors, marble and wood together in the kitchen island. And bronze, pewter, and brushed nickel are beginning to replace chrome handles. A kitchen renovation by Art of Kitchens that combines wainscoting, mirrors and wood recently won Art of Kitchens’ 2014 HIA Kitchen of the Year award.
Shelving
This style is also reflected in the kitchen shelves; While built-in appliances remain popular, they are being paired with open shelving so homeowners can display precious or interesting knick-knacks to reflect themselves. Open shelving can be customized to make the kitchen feel alive and welcoming without compromising functionality. Open shelving has the added benefit of being lighter on the budget, and if you have the right skills, you can install it yourself.
Perfectly Imperfect
Imperfect, tactile, and textured materials such as granite, engineered stone, and materials that mimic rough finishes are popular and easy to maintain. Popular materials for kitchen countertops are materials with light imperfections and textured finishes. Caesarstone Concrete Finishes and the new Silestone Suede Texture ranges are good examples of this.
High-gloss wood with smooth finishes is being replaced with textured wood finishes that characterize natural shapes, are popular and add an extra dimension to the space. Companies like Laminex and Danzer have a wide variety of textured wood veneers.
colors
Increasingly, kitchens have a range of vibrant colors mixed with subtle tones that allow for more artistic options. Pantones and Laminex’s new season predictions reflect a wider range of vibrant colors to reflect her unique style: “Soothing hues of jades, pinks and purples with colors of grandeur of majestic Chinese reds and bold golds create balance and a relaxed mood.”
Another trend that is becoming popular is using wallpaper in your kitchen. Subtle use of the right wallpaper can help balance other materials in the kitchen, as well as provide additional contrast, texture, and interest.
Other considerations
It’s worth investigating what’s new in kitchen technologies, as they have likely changed dramatically. There have been great innovations in all aspects of kitchen design in the last 10 years, not just kitchen appliances. Companies like Blum have made great strides in the internal hardware of cabinets and shelving systems.
Idea Books and Visual Markers
There have also been many innovations in the way we plan our kitchen renovation. Websites that let you create idea books (or scrapbooks), like Pinterest and Houzz, are a great way to keep all your ideas in one place. Just find photos that appeal to you and add them to your idea book.
