Trends in kitchen design are always changing. Some trends tend to be short-lived, while others stick around for a while. It’s hard to know which design trends will stand the test of time, but here are some of the current trends that are showing up in kitchen remodels in Orange County and throughout the country.
Stained Wood Cabinets Are Back
Painted kitchen cabinets have dominated the kitchen remodeling industry for many years now. Many homeowners opted for white painted cabinets, but some also went with a variety of colors—from neutral grays, all the way to jewel tones like emerald green and sapphire blue. While there will always be those who prefer painted kitchen cabinets, the current trends are going toward stained or natural wood cabinets. White Oak is a popular wood choice currently, but other wood types, such as Walnut, Cherry, or Maple can also be turned into some beautiful kitchen cabinets.
Custom Range Hoods
If you can only afford to add one custom feature to your kitchen, we suggest a custom range hood. A beautifully designed range hood can turn an otherwise standard kitchen into something special. Range hoods that make a statement are those with customized detailing and/or contrasting materials. So, if you kitchen cabinets are painted white, consider a range hood made from stained or natural wood, or vice versa.
More Drawers, Fewer Lower Cabinets
Many homeowners have discovered the benefits of having large drawers in their lower cabinet banks, rather than lots of cabinets. Drawers give you easier access to their contents than cabinets can. Large drawers are especially great for housing items like pots and pans and baking dishes, which are often on the heavier side. If you go with drawers, just make sure that high-quality drawer slides are used. Otherwise, your drawers may start to sag, or even break, over time.
Hide Those Small Appliances
Today’s high-end kitchens go out of their way to hide their small appliances. Kitchen designers and kitchen remodeling contractors will find creative ways to tuck away, or completely hide, things like microwaves, stand mixers, blenders, toasters, and coffee makers. A microwave will often be built into the backside of an island. A special cabinet with a roll-up door, called a garage countertop cabinet, will be included to keep appliances handy, but out of sight. Pop-up cabinets for stand mixers are also popular. Even large appliances can be disguised by adding decorative panels to their fronts, so they blend in with the cabinetry.
Flat Panel Doors and Drawers
Doors and drawers with flat panels are making a huge comeback in kitchens! While there will always be those who like shaker-style doors or those with other types of detailing, simple, flat doors are all the rage right now. Flat panels give a kitchen a sleek, modern look that is in stark contrast to the busier Modern Farmhouse look that was popular for so many years. As an added bonus, flat panels are super easy to keep clean, since crumbs and dust don’t have a place to settle.
Ultimately, you should choose the kitchen design elements that appeal to you, but if you’re someone who likes your home to be “on trend,” consider including some or all of the kitchen design features above.