Investing in a very good, efficient kitchen is no small feat. In fact, it could requires a huge sum of money. On the other hand, kitchens are now considered as the primary venue for entertaining guests as house parties have become trendier in recent years. Friends and families now prefer to participate in cooking parties over dining out in expensive restaurants.
If you are planning to renovate your kitchen or build a new one, then it is high time to consider these kitchen trends that will not only wow your guests but also improve the efficiency of your food preparation.
More than Granite Countertops
Granite countertops were all the rage in the past, thanks to their classically elegant appearance. However, working with granite or other stones for that matter can be quite a pain. Most natural stones are susceptible to chipping and damage. In addition, the natural patterns have the tendency to be unpredictable, even if you order them in batches, as experienced by most interior designers.
One of the best alternatives if you want to achieve that stone-like effect in your kitchen countertops and backsplashes would be solid surface countertops such as the ones sold by CaesarStone. Solid-surface countertops are less expensive than natural stones and they also look more naturally consistent. They are also less likely to chip off and cleaning is easier than granite. When it comes to color, black countertops becoming intensely popular among homeowners because of its ease of maintenance.
If you want a countertop that is even more nonporous and unsusceptible to stains, scratches or heat, the newest product available in the market would be lava stone. Pyrolave supplies lava stones and you have the option to choose matte or glossy sheen for that enviable countertop and backsplash luster. Speaking of backsplash, the new trend in 2014 would be to extend your backsplashes to a higher height of even up to your kitchen cabinets. And this tip would lead us to the second biggest trend in kitchen design.
Open up your Kitchen Storage
For a truly amazing show kitchen opt for transparency or even open cabinets. Yes, this means that your fine chinaware and glasswares can become a part of a great kitchen interior by displaying them in cabinets with glass doors or no doors at all.
Just imagine having visible upper cabinets where your everyday items can become the center of the conversation. Especially now that pantries are becoming essential in kitchen design, you have more freedom to create an organized and uncluttered look with your dishwares.
Cabinet Design
Just like granite, a lot of homes have also opted to use lacquered cabinets in past years. However, it is also going away this year. Aesthetic-wise, lacquered cabinetry already looks outdated. When it comes to practicality, maintaining a lacquered cabinet can be challenging once one cabinet shows signs of damage to it. Your only choice would be to change the entire set.
If you are looking for a trendier and more modern cabinet design but do not want to let go of that rich appearance, opt for a wood finish instead. Update the look of your cabinet using salvaged or reclaimed wood, both of which are easy to maintain and less expensive to purchase compared to lacquered wood. With a matte finish, you can achieve that farmhouse look or you can apply wood polishing for that modern, industrial feel in your kitchen. Both also looks good with any type of hardware, depending on the style that you want to achieve.
A More Efficient, Personalized Work Space
You have probably been exposed to the idea of the “working triangle” when you were planning the layout of your kitchen. However, with today’s technology and the shift in the function of the kitchen, the “work triangle” does not seem to be working anymore.
The variety of kitchen appliances, customized cabinetry and the increasing number of possible kitchen layouts give you more room to personalize the look of your kitchen instead of sticking in the 1950s kitchen design model.
A more functional kitchen provides you with more room to entertain your family and guests without them getting into the way of your food preparation. Newer kitchen layouts have provision for spaces where you can prepare food while your kids or your partner talk to you in their working table in the kitchen. There are even some layouts wherein you can enjoy your discussion with your friend while they gather in a kitchen nook which is a different space from the main dining area.
