As we enter a new year, adding personal touches to your kitchen and your home in general is increasing in popularity because we are spending more time in our homes and especially in the kitchen. Integrating you own style can be as easy as displaying a favorite collection, a photo you took on vacation, a piece of art you love, putting your favorite wallpaper behind some glass cabinets or your favorite new fabric to recover your old kitchen chairs. By putting a modern spin on just about every design style imaginable and embracing an “anything goes” attitude, 2013 has many twists and turns in store. Some of the more intriguing trends are listed below.
Image: Andrea Monath Schumacher, A.S.I.D. Allied, O Interior Design/Emily Minton Redfield, photo
Re-interpreting classic design styles (photo above). The kitchen above beautifully integrates a painted island in Emerald, Pantone’s Color of the Year, with traditional wallpaper and glass chandeliers for a stylish, yet eclectic feel that adds interest to what might have been a typical, country style kitchen. But when all of this is set against a modern backdrop of clean lines, white cabinetry and slab marble, it adds even more interest by allowing these elements to shine.
The trick is to strike a perfect balance between natural, aged, textured or patterned materials and clean, simple modern materials. Natural elements and finishes such as stone or matte engineered quartz, brings an authentic look into the space and the addition of a family heirloom or small antique piece here and there can soften modern edges. Last but not least, a pattern or some bold color adds warmth, interest and personality to any space.
This cozy seating area has a solid quartz top and a vintage base. Colorful pillows add punch. Photo: Susan Serra
Creating comfortable seating areas (photo above). A colorful seating area in the kitchen can give a ton of character to an otherwise neutral, hard surfaced space. Since we are spending more time at home, and more time in the kitchen, it is even more important to have comfortable seating in the kitchen. Unique banquettes with fun, over-stuffed pillows have become a must-have . The use of a smaller sofa or bench instead of chairs at the kitchen table are also more commonplace. To accompany this “lounge” feel in the kitchen, well-planned out task lighting for working on laptops, doing homework or reading the paper are a must. We are seeing interesting mixes of materials, textures and styles for these seating areas too.
Grey-blue cabientry by Mosaik Design Photo: Lincoln Barbour
Lighter cabinetry (photo above). White cabinetry is still the front runner for 2013, but off-whites and creamy whites are also very popular because they add light and warmth. These lighter tones are the perfect backdrop for other design elements in the kitchen, and they also help to make a space feel larger by reflecting light. Painted cabinets and grey toned woods are also hugely popular in 2013. Lighter more natural woods and painted finishes are a fresh take on the dark woods of the past, giving an open, airy feel that is perfect for cooking, relaxing or socializing. When you use more neutral colors for permanent items in your kitchen such as cabinetry and countertops, you can add personality and color in the more decorative layers like tile backsplash, accessories, rugs and art.
Sub Zero with decorative front panels by Mosaik Design Photo: Jon Jenson
Appliance disguise (photo above). We will see more appliances encased in cabinetry or hidden behind cabinet doors this year. Even the high end, professional style appliances are being incorporated more seamlessly into the kitchen. New appliances offer unique features such as ovens with glass doors and glass handles, choices of finishes on knobs like the Viking D3 series help homeowners express their own style to an even greater degree. Precision cooking, such as induction cooktops and ranges and chef style cooking, is the trend for appliances and technological add-ons become the sous chef.
“Green” kitchen by Mosaik Design Photo: Jon Jenson
Green design and universal-design (photo above). Marmoleum flooring, “green” cabinetry, low VOC paint, water-based finishes and LED lighting as seen in our kitchen above, are more commonplace as is recycling and using salvaged items in design. We have always subscribed to the belief that through clever space planning, we can work within most spaces without adding on. This holds especially true with kitchens, therefore, it is paramount to have a professional kitchen designer help you achieve the best and highest use for your space. Since more homeowners are designing for the long term, Universal design or “Aging in Place” principles will become more important this year. More efficient cabinet access will also be explored beginning this year and far into the future due to ever increasing need for universal design.