We wanted to share this great Infographic about Kitchen Design Trends for 2015. Of particular interest is the lighting. Lighting is one of the most important design elements especially in kitchens and is too often not paid proper attention in the overall design plan.
Tag Archives: Kitchen Design
Kitchen Trends that Aren’t Trendy
Brought to you via HOUZZ–great article about kitchen design for today’s home owner.
Too Hot For Outside Fun This Weekend? Transform Your Kitchen
Below is a guest post on relatively simple, low cost things you can do to transform the look and feel of your kitchen quickly.
Here in Phoenix the temps are so high that staying in an inside air conditioned space and doing fun house and design projects over a weekend sound like a great idea. I just sourced some whimsical hardware for a client that definitely will change the feeling in her kitchen–
A Kitchen Update in a Weekend
Tired of looking at your drab kitchen but don’t have the time or money to invest in a complete makeover? Don’t fret. With a little imagination and some elbow grease you can spruce up your culinary digs in a weekend. The best thing about these projects is that you can do them one at a time and not have to deal with the mess and hassle of a complete remodel.
So what are you waiting for? Dig out your paint brush and screw driver (and maybe a hammer) and put on your weekend warrior face. Here are a few projects that won’t break the bank and will leave you beaming with a feeling of accomplishment.
Install new lighting
A new light fixture can literally brighten up your kitchen. Pick a fixture that appeals to your kitchen décor but also provides adequate light to work under. Wish you had a number of lights overhead? Choose from a variety of track lighting options that replace your old fixture yet don’t require additional wiring or holes in your ceiling. They look great and instantly update an older kitchen.
Change cabinet hardware
Sometimes it’s the small details that make all the difference. Replacing outdated cabinet hardware with a modern design won’t go unnoticed. This is one of the easiest updates you can do yourself. If you don’t want to drill new holes in your cabinets and drawers, simply take one of your current hardware pulls with you to the store and match it up against the selection there.
Paint the walls
Brighten up your kitchen with fresh coat of paint on the walls and/or ceiling. If you’re feeling bold go for a bright color. A splash of color on the walls will transform the whole feel of the room. Remember, ceilings don’t have to be white (or one of the millions of off-white). And if that’s not enough, consider painting the cabinets as well (or instead). It’s remarkable what a fresh coat of paint can accomplish and with some sandpaper and elbow grease—and paint, naturally—you can turn dreary or boring into a high-class fashion statement.
Replace the floor
Depending on how much kitchen floor space you have, this project may be a little more involved, but it can easily be worth the addition effort. The floor can often go unnoticed and many kitchen floors are notorious for being drab and outdated. Rip out the old and put down something new and fresh. Consider hardwoods, stone, and eco-friendly bamboo. If you already have a hardwood floor, then it’s even easier! Give it a nice sanding and a new finish.
Update the faucet
It may be time to replace the workhorse of your kitchen, the faucet. An updated faucet will not only be more versatile than your old one but it will make a fashion statement as well. These days the selection is simply astonishing with everything from hands-free operation to faucets designed to accommodate the largest of pots.
About the author: Jonathon Ensor stays on top of the latest home design trends as a writer for Empire Today. He loves to get unique furniture and decorations from thrift stores and garage sales.
3 Great New Kitchen Product Ideas
The annual KBIS (Kitchen, Bath Industry Show) is coming up in early February. There is no end to the unique and special that is being revealed. Function and aesthetics are considered together without trading off one for another.
We wanted to share 3 special new items
This fabulous wine ‘dispenser’ is on our personal list of most wanted new items for 2014!!
From: Krups
The smart new wall oven design makes so much sense!
From: Viking
For those who are trying to compost, this product makes it so much easier not to mention ‘attractive’–can a composting bin be attractive?
From: Blanco
<a href=”
from PartSelect.com from PartSelect.com” title=”Kitchen Trends 2014-Colors, Counters, Space and More!”>Kitchen Trends 2014-Colors, Counters, Space and More!
I am pleased to share a very informative article about Kitchen Design Trends for 2014 from
http://www.partselect.com/JustForFun/Modern-Kitchen-Design-Trends-New-Colors-Appliances-Materials-More-Infographic.aspx
Kitchen Design 2014-Some Trends to Look For
Here is an interesting article about the top kitchen design trends coming in 2014. It caught my eye because S Interior Design is currently designing a kitchen for one of their clients and we are using black quartz counter tops, a deep red glass back splash tile, and lighter wood toned cabinetry. We are on-trend and didn’t even know it!
The top kitchen trends for 2014 include:
Black kitchen counters: Homeowners who want to add sophistication to their kitchen can achieve this look by specifying black granite and quartz. Expect to see black-countered kitchens paired with lighter colors for contrast.
Open shelves and glass-front cabinets: Displaying kitchen wares is a growing trend among all kitchen types, not just contemporary and traditional farmhouse kitchens. “As the kitchen has become a central meeting place for family and friends, presentation has become a priority for many homeowners,” said Kerrie Kelly of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab and Zillow Digs Board of Designers member. “It is now fashionable to display almost everything in the kitchen from dishes to pots and pans to gourmet oils and vinegars.”
Darker paint tones: Homeowners identified black, deep brown, dark red and copper tones as some of the most popular paint colors. Since dark colors may make a space feel smaller, designers recommend painting just one wall a deep shade or consider painting the ceiling or floor. –
See more at:
AND FROM HOUZZ.COM
Houzz has released the results of its first “Kitchen Trends Study,” which is based on responses from more than 7,500 homeowners who are currently undergoing a renovation or are planning a remodel.
Some of the main trends gleaned from the survey are that the open-concept kitchen is still widely popular, granite and quartz are the materials of choice when it comes to countertops, mixing appliance materials is considered, and conservative colors schemes dominate the market. The study also found that 49 percent of the responders believe in completely gutting the existing kitchen, while 42 percent prefer to update their existing space.
In terms of finishes and colors, 65 percent of responders are incorporating stainless steel appliances into their kitchen design, while many are also combining stainless with white or color appliances or integrating appliances into the cabinetry. Soft and neutral tones were most popular with responders, and topping the list of must-have appliances are a chef’s stove, double ovens and induction cook tops.
Half of the responders chose stone as the preferred material for counter tops, with quartz coming in as a close second with 36 percent. Top back splash choices include tile and glass, and top flooring choices include hardwood and tile.
The study also found that homeowners under the age of 45 prefer a contemporary design in their kitchens, while the traditional look is most popular with those over the age of 45. Seventy-nine percent of the responders said they chose to or are choosing to renovate their kitchens to improve the look and feel of the space, and 59 percent want to improve the kitchen’s function. Other motivators include appliance upgrades, improved storage and increasing the home’s value. Only half of the responders were concerned with creating an eco-friendly kitchen in terms of appliance and material selection.
Out of the 7,812 homeowners who were surveyed, 32 percent have already begun construction on their kitchens, and 68 percent have yet to start, although it seems likely they know where they want to go once they get there.
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WordPress.com
Top 5 Urban Kitchen Design Trends
The guest post below is written by an author who lives in London. So often, design trends begin in Europe and then filter over to the United States. With more and more downtown revitalization projects happening across the U.S. metro areas, urban living is once again becoming more popular for younger adults as well as active retirees who want to be close to the ‘vibe’ of downtown living. Take a read of some of the kitchen design trends that fit the urban living profile.
TOP 5 URBAN KITCHEN DESIGN TRENDS
While some homemakers have transformed their kitchen into bistro-style hangouts, others have made them look like art galleries. And even more people have redesigned their kitchens into culinary studios. Whatever style you choose for your kitchen, popular design trends can help you make a bold statement. With the selection of different textiles these days, everyone is going for a ‘transitional’ design rather than a traditional one. So here are my top five urban kitchen design palettes that will help you create a functional and entertaining hangout.
EMERALD
A stark white kitchen with bold hues of emerald is a striking choice this year. You can play with white, shades of grey and incorporate emerald into your seat cushions, a set of vertical drawers or cabinetry, or an accent wall. As a vibrant backdrop, the emerald trend will look refreshing against white walls but also add invigorating warmth to your kitchen.
BLUE SERENE
If you’re inspired by waterfront bars or cafés, you’ll enjoy turning your kitchen into a coastal retreat. This year the colour blue is on everyone’s renovation radar and never fails to impress.
Pastel shades like powder blue can feel smart and sophisticated against a crisp white canvas. Modern details like recessed spotlights, stainless steel fridge freezer, contemporary bar stools and a painted pantry door keep the overall look fresh. Have a look at Wickes doors online for a variety of styles to add doors and dress your windows.
Wooden floors with a woven blue Persian rug, sanded furniture and minimal décor helps you achieve a tranquil atmosphere.
NEON STUDIO
A fluorescent touch is all the hype this year, so if you’re high-tech kitchen could use a splash of colour, don’t be shy to accessorize with neon placemats or even include yellow, pink and green bar stools on a grey backdrop.
This trend complements kitchen technology enthusiasts so you can turn your kitchen into an internet café. A deep stainless steel basin with tall faucets built-in to your marble island counter is a contemporary and practical design. Mirrored sliding doors for your food pantry and suspended single-track lighting like built-in LEDs will enhance the neon theme.
NEUTRAL TONES
Neutrals like shale, flannel grey and pewter also take dominance this year. So if you can find nice suede wallpaper and layer your kitchen with chrome hardware. You can sharpen the overall design of your kitchen with stained, painted or frosted glass cabinetry.
Incorporate wood and copper elements such as tables, stools, frames or décor pieces.
ENERGIZE WITH BOLD GRAPHICS
High energy colour palettes including bright yellow, red chilli and electric blue add character to your kitchen. Install stainless steel cabinetry and a unique countertop like marble, basalt, glass, steel or limestone instead of the typical granite.
Whether its bold geometric patterns or botanical prints, you can create a fun retro space and further experiment with contrasting wallpaper, cushions or backsplashes.
With inspiration from India’s roadside kitchens or Lebanon’s bustling street counters, you can use bold colors like tango orange, purple or green along with printed backgrounds for a lively look. A popular design element is the accent cabinet so you can add a vertical accent column by painting a set of drawers or selecting colo
red cabinetry.
Author bio: Amna Alam is a London-based freelance writer who enjoys film, fashion and interior design.
Small Kitchen Design
Do you live in an apartment? An older home? A condominium? If so, you may have a small sized kitchen. Not to worry, small does not mean that your kitchen cannot look great and function well. What it does mean is that a little extra planning and creativity needs to go into your overall design planning process. Professional designers are trained to make the most of a space regardless of the size. Below is a guest post from our neighbors in Canada describing how they optimized the design of their small kitchen.
Bring out charm and efficiency to your small kitchen
Earlier on, I used to reside in Las Vegas with my parents. I used to be extremely proud of my house. We had a three-storied house with large rooms and huge courtyard in the front. It was extremely well-decorated with art and architecture from olden days. However, as the fate would have it, I fell for a professional home re-modeler from Orillia who was considerably less well-off than my family. I started residing in Orillia. The apartment was small, especially with a very small kitchen. The work area was much less than what I was used to working in. Initially, of course, I faced a lot of difficulties in cooking, serving, and cutting vegetables. However, the professional expertise of my husband finally came to the rescue. He suggested me a few handy tips to remodel the kitchen and give a new charm to it.
Here in this article I would like to discuss some of those tips with my readers, so that they can also make their kitchen more warm and cozy.
Add storage unit: Jack (my husband, in case you wonder) suggested me to make the kitchen efficient and functional. To do so, he asked me to incorporate a lot of cabinets while planning kitchen design, he actually suggested me to check rock wood kitchen design, in Orillia. To choose some innovative designs, we went through magazines and visited many showrooms of kitchen cabinets in Orillia.
While the floor space in the kitchen was small, he suggested me to create cabinets on the walls and under the sink. These helped me a lot in storing jars, containers, utensils, cleaning product and many others. He also advised me to install open shelves on the walls to stack plates and mount hooks behind the door to hang frying pans and cups. Being a professional home re-modeler, of course, my husband has amazing taste of colors. While the tiles and other accessories in my apartment were Grey, he suggested me to choose ivory color for the cabinets that added a special charm to my kitchen.
Create efficiency: Earlier my kitchen was quite inconvenient to work in. There was hardly any space to perform the task. Every time I had to go out to the dining area for cutting vegetables and serving food. However, now after incorporating counter tops, my kitchen has become a little more functional and efficient. I incorporated a rectangular shaped counter top as suggested by my husband. The counter top I chose (rather us, my husband and me) was made out from stainless steel, because we thought that stainless steel would really complement our small kitchen and give a modern look to it.
Mirror the kitchen: My husband told me that mirrors work magic in a small kitchen. I listened to him and installed a big framed mirror on a wall. Trust me, the illusion of the mirror made my kitchen look more spacious and large. Besides that, it added a new charm to my kitchen and made it look more appealing.
Bring in more light: It is always necessary to have a free passage of fresh light and air in a kitchen, especially when it is small. So, we decided to give a new treatment to windows. Are you thinking of broadening your windows? No, certainly not! We did not do any such thing. We simply added a new drape and curtain in the window made of lighter material. If you think that this sounds little inane, then try this and see the effect. Our kitchen now looks more bright and fresh than ever before!
Kitchen walls: Special care needs to be taken for kitchen walls, specially the area near the gas burners and oven. These parts are exposed to heat and water, and requires easy cleaning surface. Glazed Tiles are used as covering along with stainless steel wall panels to reinforce it and make it reliable option.
These are some of the handy ways we adopted to make our small kitchen efficient and make it look charming and appealing than before.
Kitchen Remodeling – Basic Starting Thoughts
Kitchen design seems to be on a lot of people’s minds right now. Perhaps it was this last holiday season’s cooking and entertaining experience that has put some folks at that point of –that’s it, I need to update and upgrade my kitchen NOW!
Below is a guest post that addresses some basic kitchen remodeling topics that should be thought through before the project begins in earnest.‘
Thoughts on remodeling designer kitchens
Why do homeowners remodel their kitchen? It’s usually after they get frustrated with the designs of the previous owners. ‘Why is that there?’ and ‘I don’t see any reason for this’ are thoughts that usually set them on the path of new kitchen design. Since it’s this frustration that drives the change, it is very important to know what you want to change right from the start.
Before you even think about getting down to the nitty-gritty of planning designer kitchens – with CAD, blueprints, and designers – there are some basics to get through first. Considering these will save you a huge amount of time and money later.
Functionality…
Arguably, the kitchen is the most important room in the home. These days, it’s not only a room for cooking but doubles up as a family meeting point and an area for social gatherings. It is important to design everything around your preparation, cooking, refrigeration, and dishwashing zones.
Don’t tamper with…
There are some appliances in kitchens that are extremely difficult and costly to move. These include vented range cooker hoods, sinks and dishwashers.
You can move…
Fridges can be moved fairly easily, as can cabinetry, so take these into consideration.
Sensibly placed cabinets…
Remember that putting cabinets in places that are difficult to reach will result in crockery never getting used. You should, therefore, mostly aim to put your kitchen cabinets at eye-level and above your worktops.
Kitchen Island…
Do I need a kitchen island? – I hear your ask. Well, they certainly do add value to a property, and are an absolute must for some homeowners. They are great for the ‘social kitchen’. Many designer kitchens have this feature. But it comes down to space really. After all, it’s just a trend, and you can do without one if necessary.
Don’t scrimp on worktops…
High quality designer kitchens need worktops to last for a long time and must be durable and ensure daily usage. It really is worth paying that bit extra to get a granite or quartz surface. Spend some time thinking about what you want and make absolutely sure you get it right.
Space is key…
This is the real reason you need to hire a designer – since they are experts at proper spacing. Any space problems will be worked around in a way that computer software just can’t manage.
S Interior Design- Scottsdale, Arizona Blog 