12 Hottest New Trends This Year

1. Healthy Kitchen Gadgets:
One of the hottest new trends is helping you keep those New Year’s resolutions! Steamers and steam ovens, sous vide cookers, spiralizers (shown is from Williams-Sonoma), and super cool products like Urban Cultivator’s indoor gardens allow you to access your greens 365 days a year by growing organic vegetables and herbs right in your kitchen.

2. Metal Range Hoods:
Metal range hoods and combinations of wood and metal range hoods are hot right now. Look for these beauties in manufacturers like Bluestar, Ventahood, and Abbaka. (See these in planning resources). A metallic or shimmery finish on the range hood offers a nice contrast that can really warm up your kitchen. For all the design pros reading today, BlueStar® is inviting professional kitchen designers, architects, interior designers, builders and remodelers to submit your outstanding kitchen designs by the end of the month for the chance to win the title of BlueStar® Kitchen Designer of the Year. Ken and I are honored to sit on the judging panel with this elite group of industry professionals led by celebrated interior designer Eric Cohler. See the contest details and meet the panel of judges here.

3. Colorful Appliances:

Adding color to your kitchen appliances makes a kitchen unique with ovens from brands such as BlueStar, Aga, La Cornue, KitchenAid and Smeg (see in planning resources). Even small appliances like blenders and toasters can give your kitchen some fantastic character. In our kitchen, we chose a black AGA oven, which keeps our feet warm during NY winters. (Can you tell which are mine?)

This year Smeg (known for its retro-style refrigerators, ovens, toasters, teapots, and blenders) introduced enameled-front retro dishwashers to round out its appliance offerings. Visit Smeg in the A&D building here in NY (212-265-5378) or find online at Amazon or Williams-Sonoma.

4. Satin Brass Finishes:
Shown here is Rohl Allia Fireclay Single Bowl Undermount Kitchen Sink in Matte Black, ROHL Country Kitchen C-Spout Bridge Faucet with Sidespray in Inca Brass (A1461XMWS-2) ROHL Country Kitchen C-Spout Filter Faucet in Inca Brass (A1635XM)

5. Copper:
See copper come alive in kitchen accessories, sinks, lighting, hardware, and range hoods. The copper elements our client chose for this kitchen are timeless and elegant. (See project details here).

6. Black Cabinetry, Sinks & Faucets:
Black cabinetry, faucets, and sinks are also very hot this year. These two Kitchen Designs’ projects (by designers Mario Mulea and  Ken Kelly) received much media attention recently. Here our clients’ boldly chose black kitchen cabinets that look stunning in both traditional and transitional style. This year, Blanco introduced released its first ever IKON™ Silgranit apron front sink shown here in black with a matching ARTONA™ faucet. Note: Continuing to trend from last year are black and white color schemes, and cabinetry in white and grey.

7. Textured Dimensional Tile:
We are seeing an uptick in textures on the walls and in kitchen backsplashes creating an all new focal point in the home. The new textured tile adds a unique architectural element to your kitchen or bath. Shown is Studio Modern tile from our Walker Zanger line. Walker Zanger’s Kaza concrete tile shown here won a Best of KBIS award this year. See the other design winners here.

8. Free Standing Tubs:
This one is a farmhouse-inspired DXV Oak Hill Freestanding Soaking Tub that is sure to give you an indulgent spa experience at home. Here it is paired with their transitional floor mount tub filler with DXV Randall lever handles.

9. Pantone Colors of the year:
Pantone Colors of the year… Serenity (blue) and Rose quartz (pink)… are everywhere! BlueStar unveiled a custom oven based on these colors at the 2016 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS). See my last color trends post for the product key.

10. Creative LED Cabinet and drawer lighting:
LED lighting will continue to shed light on our cabinet interiors, exteriors, and drawers. Here is a close up shot I took of Ken demonstrating LED lighting with a WOW factor at the Eurocucina International Kitchen Show in Milan.

11. Quartz that looks like Marble:
If you want the look of marble in a quartz product, there are several new color releases like Statuario Maximus and Nobel Grey fromCaesarstone, and have a look at their classic Calacatta Nuvo. Silestone Helix is another beautiful option. Cambria’s Ella, Berwyn, Torquay, and Brittanicca are also worth a look. See links to all brands on our planning resources page.

12. Open Storage:
Expose those towels and dishes! A touch of open shelving in the kitchen and bath is a great way to showcase your personality.

 

 

THREE YEARS OF YOUR LIFE SPENT IN THE KITCHEN

A survey by the Daily Mail revealed, on average, we spend 3 years of our lives in the kitchen which means even the smallest bit of time saved by properly positioning appliances and utensils is more time that can be used doing things that are important to you.

Everyone has at some point thought themselves a professional chef. That moment when you have a minute alone, you have patiently been moving your food around in the pan to keep it from sticking and that’s when you attempt, “The Flip”. You have a quick look around to make sure no one is behind you, pick up the pan, give the stir fry a couple of shakes and on the last one, jolt it forward allowing the contents to fly up in the air and land smoothly back in the pan – and the floor – and the counter – and somehow on top of the fridge a week later (still don’t know how I managed that one).

Many of us want to bring an element of professionalism into our cooking and get restaurant style quality food in our own homes. A lot of this is done by using the latest gadgets and gizmos to achieve the greatest possible outcome within a budget and normally with limited ingredients but what if this professional element was incorporated into the entire kitchen design from the start?

Looking at the structure of a commercial kitchen allows you to analyse the best method for preparing and cooking food that specifically suits you. A lot of work goes into the layout of a professional kitchen to best utilise the time and space available. The layout of your own kitchen is just as important but not only just for convenience and safety.

 

Upgrade the kitchen for Spring

Spring is a time for renewal and a perfect opportunity to upgrade the kitchen and home with something fresh for the new season. It is always interesting for us to see what our clients are doing in their kitchens to experience life, create memories, and spend quality time with their friends and families. Here are some ideas…

Make it uniquely your own! When you create the kitchen of your dreams, you will immediately respond to its beauty and weave it into the fabric of everyday life. For us, that means mornings admiring the birds pecking at the feeders outside our kitchen windows while indulging in a latte or a smoothie, some fresh fruit, and bread. The objects we use every day are key to the enjoyment we receive. Our recent addition of a Kuvings juicer fits right into our spring renewal program; it even makes creamy gelato with fresh frozen fruit that is amazing!  The unique elements you choose for your kitchen become the backdrop for the memories you create.