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Changing Trends in Kitchen Remodeling
Sheila Bludworth, ASID Allied, IIDA Associate, IDS Associate, GHBA Remodelers Council |
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In the twenty first century kitchen design will see a return to its roots, with a twist. When we look to the homes of early America, we find large rooms that served as kitchen, dining, family and parlor all in one. Today’s kitchen trends are moving away from separate rooms and are incorporating the current technological and cultural trends. The home is more versatile and personalized than ever before, taking into consideration each family and their utilitarian needs and aesthetic preferences.
The modern family has vastly different uses for the home and kitchen than families in the latter half of the twentieth century. Today’s family is eating “on the fly”, entertainment is more casual, cooking frequently involves multiple chefs and technology is increasingly more common in the public areas of the home. Many new kitchens are incorporating such areas as libraries, study nooks, craft areas, easy chairs and lighting for reading. When planning to remodel, the homeowner needs to take into consideration how the room is to be used. Will children be studying in the area? Is Internet access needed? Will the area be used frequently for entertaining and if so, formal or casual? Is the kitchen going to be used for gourmet cooking? Once a purpose and use for the area has been defined, design and space planning begins. Lighting is one particular area that we are seeing new trends. Without lighting, there is no color, form or texture. New fluorescent lighting can be much warmer than the harsh glare seen in the past and is the coolest light source. Low voltage recessed lighting provides an excellent crisp white light that renders colors accurately, but line voltage halogen is usually too hot for under cabinet use. Xenon lighting produces a very white, low glare light that is excellent for under cabinet task lighting. Today the traditional work triangle is less likely to be well defined and task areas are more likely to reflect workflow. Prep areas may include a prep sink and disposal, cleanup areas will include sinks, disposal, and dishwasher and wine coolers, champagne coolers, and icemakers will be found in beverage centers. Furthermore, the twenty-first century cook centers may well include steam ovens and built in pasta cookers which have a burner, sink, faucet and drain all in one. The twenty first century kitchen can be personally tailored for a family’s needs in ways which were previously unheard.
Kitchen design is also receiving a visual facelift. We are seeing materials, patterns and finishes previously reserved for the public and private areas of the home moving into the utilitarian spaces. There is more ethnic and cultural awareness as we move into a global society. Therefore, inclusion of Asian art and embroidery motifs, American Indian pottery or beadwork, African carvings and Middle Eastern mosaics are all working their way into the kitchen. Renewable resources such as glass tiles made from recycled glass, bamboo, rubber, cork flooring and cabinetry produced from reclaimed hardwoods are becoming more popular and affordable. Stainless steel, bamboo, glass, concrete and natural stone counters, including engineered natural stone, are all being used for counter tops and backsplashes. Cabinets with furniture finishes and hardware, corbels, columns, and feet are giving the kitchen a more “furnished” look. Color trends are also being influenced by inclusion of ethnic and cultural awareness. Serenity and harmony are reflected in soft sea foam greens and blues and mica neutrals. Colors are food for the eye and we are looking to saffron yellows, candied yam oranges, and leek greens. Nightlife is also being brought into the kitchen with toxic neon hues foiled against dark sultry midnight blues, evening purples and smoky grays. A mood, cultural or artistic preference can be reflected throughout the kitchen, making the family cook feel more at home in a kitchen that is truly theirs.
Today’s kitchen is more functional for the new “on-the-go” lifestyle and more reflective of individual tastes and cultural stylistic preferences. As this trend continues look for more advances in these areas as designers and companies continue to improve and increase options available to homeowners. Specialized areas and personalized kitchens will bring the home both back to its roots and into the twenty first century. |
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