Posted: May 2009

As anyone with avocado-colored appliances or dark wood wall paneling can attest to, one era’s hottest trend is often the pits of the next. Because you can’t change your kitchen as easily as a pair of platform shoes, it’s a smart idea to work with a professional designer.  Skilled designers are trained to combine the trendy and the timeless in a unique way that suits your family’s specific needs.

Before you work with someone it’s helpful to have some ideas in mind that your designer can use as stepping stones to get you to your ultimate heart’s desire.

With that in mind, here are some of the latest trends in kitchen designs that are sure to shape kitchens of all budgets in years to come.

1. The kitchen isn’t separate from the rest of the home.  As a result of the extremely popular open floor plans popular in homes today, the kitchen is integrated with the rest of the living spaces. How often do you see living rooms done up with laminated wood coffee tables or bright white thermofoil book shelves? You won't find these items as much in today’s remodeled kitchens either. Instead of solid banks of standard cabinets, designers are mixing stained and glazed woods with painted finish cabinetry; as well as matching solid wood doors with some with glass inserts. Many are now choosing to place cabinets on decorative feet with deep toe-kicks to make them look like freestanding furniture and accessorizing them with jewelry-like hardware.
2. Use every inch possible for display. Custom display areas in the kitchen are highly popular; often added above the upper cabinets, 12-15” glass front displays can show off your favorite glassware and eliminate that dust collection area between your cabinets and your ceiling.
3. New appliances are appearing in new places.  In the spirit of clearing the counter because of our on-the-go lifestyle,  warming drawers, beverage chillers, ice makers and refrigerator drawers are all being installed under the countertop. Dinners can be cooked and kept warm for a spouse coming home late from work and kid-friendly drinks and snacks can be delegated to a child-height chilled drawer; both can blend seamlessly into the kitchen with cabinetry panels or can stand out as metallic accents.
4. Revered for years, the old kitchen work triangle idea does not always apply to today’s remodeled kitchens. Designers are combining traditional storage, prep, cook and clean-up spaces with formal dining spaces, homework/computer areas, wine service or bar space…whatever the client wants, and all in one kitchen. Multiple sinks are often used in the kitchen, sometimes in a butler’s pantry off the main kitchen equipped with its own prep area, microwave and refrigerator. Islands are now multi-purpose with space to prep food, appliances to cook it, and seating to eat it right at the island.

Where can you find out more? How do you update your kitchen to make it last? A professional designer and qualified design/build remodeler can help you seamlessly blend form and function in your kitchen.  The products, the planning and the professionals are often the keys to creating a space that incorporates the latest trends without leaving you stuck with avocado appliances.

This article was submitted by Emily P. Smith with AK Complete Home Renovations based in Atlanta, GA. Find them at www.advancedkitchens.com.