The kitchen is more than a space to store food and whip up meals. Always humming, it anchors a home. It’s where we dine, gather, study, pay bills, pop onto Zoom calls and entertain, so naturally we want a functional space that suits our taste.
From the transitory to the timeless, the latest kitchen design trends are all about balancing enduring features like quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances with splashes of color, stylish textures, mixed materials and natural elements.
Among the biggest trends is creating space. Lots of space with ample storage.
These days, homeowners really want to knock down walls and open things up in the kitchen, said Kim Hinman, chief designer and owner of Hinman Construction in Ballston Spa.
Homeowners are willing to forgo a formal dining room to create larger, more expansive kitchens with sedan-sized islands, said Andy Pauldine, showroom design manager with Chas G. Burch Supply Co. based in Schenectady.
“In other parts of the country there may be a shift going back to smaller cozy concealed kitchen designs, however open floor plans and large islands are alive and well, still in pretty high demand,” Pauldine said.
Large and oversized islands are increasingly popular if space allows. Some homeowners are even requesting two islands — one for food preparation and another that can double as a dining table, Hinman said.
Material world
One of the most defining elements of any kitchen design is still cabinetry. Homeowners are taking a transitional approach with doors and finishes.
Simple styles, like basic shaker or slab cabinets still dominate, with homeowners incorporating opaque painted finishes in prevailing shades of white and gray, but also pops of blue, Pauldine said. White kitchens aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, but homeowners are embracing multiple hues.
“While there is still demand for a classic white on white kitchen, we do often find that customers are open and interested in dual tone kitchens,” Pauldine said. “Sometimes this is done by combining a couple different complimentary paint colors and other times a combination of paint and warmer wood tones with texture.”
In kitchen design, a lot of trends come, go and then come back again and natural wood cabinets, like oak and hickory, are back in a big way.
“These species used as accent pieces and finished in matte driftwood, sand, or hues in gray to slate can make a stunning visual statement,” he said.
The real centerpiece of the kitchen, though, may be what sits atop the cabinetry.
“While kitchen cabinets have moved from the ornate and decorative to smooth and clean, countertop selection is an opportunity to create some visual interest,” Pauldine said. “It is a large surface and often becomes the focal point of the kitchen.”
Engineered stone such as quartz and ultra compact surfaces, countertops created from a combination of glass, porcelain and quartz are still most popular, but Pauline predicts we’ll see more attention given to textured, matte and embossed surfaces soon. Other materials snubbed in recent years may also see a resurgance.
“While demand has decreased in the past several years at the trade level, I do think also that we will soon see a shift back to natural stones like granite, quartzite and marble for use as countertops,” Pauldine said. “These materials are natural, durable, visually organic and with the advancements of sealers on the market can be far less maintenance than you might think.”
Wood countertops are also mounting a comeback. Organic and forgiving, wood surfaces are available in a variety of species and hues, Hinman said. They add rustic charm and are key to creating a modern farmhouse vibe, an aesthetic that is still hanging on even if it isn’t as favored as it was a few years ago.
Overall, neutral shades and warmer tones, still dominate, but homeowners are opting for pops of color, especially blues and greens.
“We are seeing bolder backsplashes and more square tiles,” Hinman said. “Subway was popular for a long, long time and now we are seeing more square tiles with almost a handmade look to them.”
Companies are now offering large slabs or quartz at varying thicknesses, which allows homeowners to extend the surface for dramatic effect.
“You can take the same counter material and bring it up onto the wall,” Hinman said. It’s a practical option, too. There are no grout lines to seal and scrub.
Gadgets and tools
As for appliances, trends haven’t wavered much, according to Pauldine.
“Still on trend are French and four-door refrigerators, gas cooktops, smaller microwaves that can be hidden or mounted under a wall cabinet, quiet dishwashers with third rack and electric convection ovens,” Pauldine said. The black stainless finish that was all the rage about 10 years ago is on its way out, but the stainless steel finish will remain timeless.
“When space and budget allow, integrated appliances are also very nice as this provides the opportunity to conceal the appliances with matching integrated cabinet doors,” Pauldine said.
If you’re on a budget
While no one rips out and remodels their kitchen annually to stay on top of trends, there are simple and creative ways to refresh your culinary hub without spending a fortune.
“Paint goes a long way,” Hinman said. “Fresh-painted walls and trim can make a big difference and make it feel like a brand new home.”
Replacing trim around windows, adding taller base trim or crown molding can also dress up a any kitchen, she said.
Swapping out the hardware is also a relatively inexpensive way to spruce up the space.
Faucets, cabinet hardware and light fixtures — the “jewelry” Hinman calls it — that combine two metals like matte black and champagne bronze are increasingly popular.
In addition to mixed metals, don’t count out chrome, Pauldine said. “The kitchen design world is ever-changing, we see trends come and go, sometimes very quickly,” said Pauldine who estimates that 50 percent of the fixtures he sells are chrome. “ If any one thing is truly timeless it is the chrome finish.” www.timesunion.com