Kitchen Connoisseur: Embrace the Heart of Your Home
In my Downton Abbey-inspired kitchen, my husband does all the real cooking!
Across the various clients I’ve worked with and the homes I’ve designed for, the largest portion of the budget almost always goes into the kitchen. It's so ubiquitous, it’s almost a fact! Kitchens get the big money.
The Importance of Kitchens
There’s an easy logic behind it, too: kitchens are the beating heart of a home, the main communal space even more so than a living room or den. It’s where parents prepare meals and kids belly up to the counter for an afternoon snack; where guests filter in, glass of wine in hand, and chat as the host makes sure dinner isn’t burning. Even my clients who don’t identify as foodies or chefs put their money where their stomach is; we love our kitchens!
Often, what we love most is what we have the most opinions about. Allow me to demonstrate. What are your opinions about:
Stainless steel versus black appliances?
Drawer microwaves under the counter or hinged door microwaves built into cabinetry?
Butcherblock or marble/quartz countertops?
White/wood cabinets or colorful cabinets?
I’d bet you had a strong preference and justification for your answer on at least one of the above.
We want our kitchens to reflect ourselves just as much as the rest of the house. As a designer, it’s a joyful process to figure out how to bring my clients’ personalities “to life” in their kitchens. I like to begin my design process with lots of questions about their likes, wish lists, and priorities that I follow up with co-created inspiration renderings and one-on-one discussions (when we say, “farmhouse aesthetic,” are we thinking of the same thing?). Of course, central to this process is bringing in my insight as an industry expert, ensuring my clients’ homes is a harmonious blend of their own unique individuality and the latest trends.
This Florida condo incorporates modern touches like the herringbone plank floors with my clients’ love of Mackenzie-Childs accessories and their talented grandchildren’s artwork.
What are those trends, I hear you ask? Well, as I mentioned in my previous post, I attended the industry-only Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Las Vegas, where I was inspired by the latest and greatest in kitchen and bathroom design. I’m excited to report to you all about . . .
Kitchen Trends: What’s Now and What’s to Come!
1. Color pops? More like color explosions!
Color here, color there, color everywhere! I am so excited to say that the reign of gray-beige (or, “greige,” if you will) is over! It has been shown the door and color has been invited back into our homes–specifically glittering, colorful appliances!
Oh la la! This powdery French blue oven from La Cornue has me dreaming of a sunny day in Provençe, strolling in the vineyards.
Another La Cornue confection is this gorgeous teal-blue oven, range, and hood. Note that the colors, no matter their hue, have a warm, rich tonal depth. I love the mix of metals: shiny, powder-coated cabinetry with metal edging details, buffed stainless steel worktops, and antique brass hardware and lighting. Incorporating the walnut drawers on either side of the range warms up the design.
Outdoor kitchens are getting in on the fun too! I love this retro outdoor kitchen grill configuration; perfect for cooking up a good time swapping memories of the “old days” while making new memories.
Makers and manufacturers aren’t limiting themselves with coloring appliances; the colorful palettes extend to lighting, too!
Under and in-cabinet lighting were everywhere at KBIS and I’ve seen lights that change color hues via a phone app, giving you the power to “vibe check” (as the young people say) with a touch of a button. If it’s a lovely morning and you’re having a healthy breakfast, there’s a perfect light color for that! What about a romantic night in with your partner? There’s another light color for that, too!
My client embraced this “mood lighting” technology in her newly constructed custom home. I love the color range you can achieve with the touch of your phone screen.
2. Fix your eyes on these fixtures!
To balance out the jewelry box of colors served up on the appliances, fixtures were following their own finish trends. The most popular finishes I noticed were . . .
Matte black has had a comeback (in my eyes) combined with brass and an industrial design.
These workstation sinks combine sleek, modern matte black finishes with warm, walnut woods. Read on for more about these multi-taskers!
Matte black wasn’t the only popular finish – much as the newest (retro) design trend in jeans (hello, wide-leg, stovepipes, I’m talking to you!), anything goes in finishes: rose-gold, and warm bright-brass all played well with basic black.
I loved how these options add texture to a kitchen’s overall look. It’s smart design: incorporating a “quieter” touch with matte faucets and handles allowing the “louder” choices (like a pink fridge!) to shine.
3. Sustainable Design
Sustainable Design was a big tagline at KBIS again this year. We’ve all heard about sustainability in design, but what does it look like and how can we incorporate it into our everyday lives?
Sustainable design means creating a design that is environmentally friendly by reducing environmental impact, using healthier materials and systems, and creating efficiencies through resource reduction. I could devote an entire blog post to sustainable design (and maybe I will!), but in summary, with regards to kitchens, examples of sustainable design include:
Selecting energy efficient appliances – an easy way to do this is to look for the Energy Star rating on every appliance.
Installing LED lighting wherever possible. LED lights use about 75-80% less energy than incandescent bulbs, which are being phased out in many countries.
Improve indoor air quality by using low-VOC paints, adhesives, and finishes. VOC stands for volatile organic compounds which have been found to contribute to a multitude of health hazards including cancer.
Achieve water efficiency by installing low-flow faucets and fixtures.
Recycle waste by planning cabinetry spaces for easy sorting of recyclables and composting centers.
Silestone, a company that produces beautiful low-silica countertop surfaces made from recycled materials and premium minerals, just launched a carbon-neutral brand.
4. Allez Vite! Let’s hear about the international manufacturers!
I sang the praises of La Cornue in the first KBIS post (and I couldn’t resist sprinkling some of their appliances in earlier in this post, too!), which gave you a taste of the caliber of international manufacturers I saw and who are beginning to become real movers and shakers in kitchen design on this side of the pond.
If you’re looking for a statement piece this range from L’Atelier Paris is it! The perfect range for a Francophile and a foodie.
The “funniest” (childish, I know) international vendor I spoke with was Thomas Crapper & Co. Bear with me for a moment as I digress from our topic of kitchens, but Thomas Crapper & Company manufacture porcelain thrones where you, ahem, answer the call of nature. They’ve been some of the best in the bathroom business since 1861 (and indeed this is where the slang term came from!), and today the company is synonymous with quality. Not only do they make beautiful products, but they’re also committed to responsibly sourcing materials and maintaining a low carbon footprint. I loved stumbling across this bit of history and admire the classic designs of the company which are just as elegant, sophisticated, and luxurious as any ultra-modern, cutting-edge technology trend.
This high level cistern is available in a variety of RAL colors and can be personalized with your family name, property name, or personal message!
Bringing it back to kitchens: it really was a British invasion, because Crofts & Assinder hardware company, established in 1875 in Birmingham, England, was also at KBIS. Almost from the beginning, this company has been outfitting hardware in kitchens and bathrooms at some of the most exclusive addresses in the world, including the White House and London’s Ritz and Waldorf hotels. I’m itching to use their beautifully crafted hardware in a kitchen design, so if you’re looking to elevate your own address, contact me! You won’t see this hardware everywhere–yet!
The Amersham handle design is a uniquely British name for a uniquely British (and uniquely high-quality) handle!
The industrial-looking handle which was all over KBIS was uniquely displayed by Crofts & Assinder. This is hardware that you would appreciate touching every day.
5. What’s Cooking, Good Looking (on your induction stove range)?
I think we can all agree that electric stove ranges are not ideal. They don’t cook food evenly and they’re impossible to clean. For decades, gas ranges have been a long-loved alternative. However, they do pose serious hazards–gas leaks and environmental damage, oh my!–as well as more minor headaches, like having access to a gas line. Recently, due to sustainability efforts, some states (California, leading the way, of course!) have even made installing gas ranges in new buildings if not illegal right now, then something to think about twice. So what’s the alternative to the alternative?
The induction range is seamlessly incorporated into a stainless steel countertop for a sleek,modern look.
Allow me to introduce you to the induction range (if you haven't already met)! A new take on the classic electric stove, induction ranges use electromagnetism to heat the cookware, essentially turning pots and pans into their own heat source. This cuts the need for dangerous and environmentally damaging gas without sacrificing cooking efficacy. Induction ranges heat pans evenly so you can continue stir-frying, pan-searing, and pot-boiling with the same, and actually better, control than a gas stove.
KBIS really showed off new designs in the world of induction!
Additionally, induction ranges are more compact, freeing up important kitchen real estate for extra storage or ovens. A recent client had an oven and a half included with their induction range. Imagine: four pans going on the stove plus a turkey roasting in the oven and collard greens roasting in the other! Thanksgiving sounds like a cakewalk!
A common concern my clients have is whether they will have to buy all new cookware if they opt for an induction range. Induction requires that the cookware you use has iron in it to transfer the heat. Before you rush out to Sur La Table, an easy way to test your current cookware is to hold a magnet to the bottom. If the magnet sticks, ta-da, your cookware is induction-ready! Some examples of pan materials that are magnetic include cast iron, enameled cast iron, and many types of stainless-steel cookware. This blog post from Spruce Eats explains in detail what to look for in choosing induction-compatible cookware.
6. Workstation sinks
If you’re looking for the ultimate way to treat the home chef in your life (or, if you’re the home chef and you want to treat yourself) I highly recommend a workstation sink. These sinks ingeniously incorporate your most common kitchen gadgets like colanders, cutting boards, and drying racks into the sink’s design without sacrificing much-needed countertop space.
This sink shows off a number of the inset options that come with a hardworking workstation. I love the combination of stainless steel, dark cabinetry, and butcher block countertops.
The extended lip of the sink is designed for the inserts (cutting boards, drying racks, etc) to be easily swapped in and out. You can even use the inserts to cover your sink if you’re in a pinch for extra counter space.
I love thoughtfully crafted appliances that never lose sight of design’s two core tenants: beauty AND utility! This is wash-up made easy and chic.
Putting the Past Behind Us
If these are the new trends, what’s happened to previous trends in kitchen design? Before we get into it, let’s make it clear: while fads come and go, good design is timeless. A trend from 2020 can still be incorporated well into a kitchen if it's done with an eye for the space’s overall aesthetic and–most importantly–if you like it! (for example, a Downton Abbey-inspired kitchen!).
However, to give you an idea of what I didn’t see at the KBIS trade show:
Out: Overly open shelving instead of cabinets (thank heavens! I had no idea where to put all my dishes!). Real people live in their kitchens and that means keeping it neat and tidy, which means hidden!
Instead try…
A mixture of some open shelves for decorative purposes! I love the above, designed by Fredrick Tang, which makes smart use of the corner spaces for an open-shelved display. Often, cabinet corners can become a wormhole where dishes get forgotten for years; this is a smart (and pretty!) use of the space. (source)
Out: Over-the-range microwaves – this trend died in the 1980s! Dual purposing a microwave with venting the range was never a good idea in my opinion. Here is a blog post to discuss what it’s all about.
Instead try…
Give the oven hood its due AND the microwave its own home, just as Eve Robinson did in this beautiful kitchen! Drawer microwaves under the countertops are not only sleek but efficient! (Source)
Out: Kitchen desks incorporated into a kitchen. Let’s just say that the home office has taken over. Check out a great “re-purposing” of a typical 1990s-style kitchen desk here!
Instead of this…
Try this…
Who wants to work anyway, when you could have a breakfast nook like the one in this adorable Soho apartment kitchen, designed by Benjamin Vandiver? (Source)
Out: Overuse of recessed lighting. Pendant lighting, semi-flush lights, backlighting, in-cabinet and under-cabinet lighting have all added nuance to kitchen lighting reducing the harshness of focused recessed lighting. Or, as my professors in university would say – reducing Swiss cheese electrical plans.
Instead of this…
Try this…
Out: Overly ornate cabinets and hanging pot racks – I’m grouping these things together, because although I am a self-avowed Maximalist, I do believe we need to let the design shine through. Cluttering it up with overly trimmed and appliqued cabinets and hanging pots is a distraction!
Instead of this:
Try this:
Replace the pot rack with one (or a few) pendent lights that don’t clutter the kitchen’s center and also make way for natural light sources, like in Lauren Geremina’s design above (Source).
Out: Too much stainless steel! I like to mix some stainless-steel appliances (range, ovens, microwave) with panel-ready appliances (dishwasher, refrigerator). In my opinion, the “all-industrial” kitchen is out. We want the kitchen to integrate into the home with finishes that feel like furniture and built-in millwork. In this way, we create a space that is both utilitarian and comfortable to “hang out” in.
I have to disagree with AD– I don’t think all-stainless steel kitchens are having a moment! An abundance of cold, hard steel leaves me cold.
Instead try…
Go antique with white appliances like in this historic 1920s Los Angeles home!
Kitchen Connection
What’s new and caught your eye? Are you ready to incorporate it into your kitchen? If the answer is yes, drop me a line to schedule a consultation and we can connect on all things kitchen–that is, all things your dream kitchen!
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