Just like clothing fashion trends over the years, there have been many trends that have come and gone in interior design. Kitchens are no exception. The pokey little kitchens of yesteryear are a far cry from the functional beasts we see in contemporary homes today. The average homeowner creates or renovates a kitchen once, at most twice in their lifetime due to both the cost and inconvenience of undertaking this task. So great is the pressure to create a design that is not only functional, but one that will continue to look current for as long as possible, it can become quite overwhelming deciding from the vast array of choices.
So lets look at what kitchen trends are here to stay.
Open plan kitchen with dark neutral cabinets, white benchtops and stainless steel appliances.
Open Plan Kitchens
Kitchens were once designated to a small room dedicated purely to cooking and cleaning and therefore, not a focus of design. Today’s kitchens however, are no longer segregated from the living area and have become a place of focus in contemporary homes to showcase. Having an open plan kitchen has changed the way we entertain, making it easy for us to prepare drinks, meals or snacks for our guests and still take part socially in our entertaining/ living area.
Open plan living is not just for the entertainer but preferable for parents, allowing them to prepare meals and keep a watchful eye on children.
Colour Scheme & Cabinet Style
White and neutral colours are best for kitchens as these colour schemes do not date. Bright, bold colours go in out of style and can date your kitchen in just a few years. If your area is of a larger size, feel free to go bold with some darker neutrals or even a splash of classic black. Ultimately, the depth of colour and the amount of it you use will depend on the size of your kitchen area. White kitchens are crisp, clean and create the appearance of space making it the perfect choice for smaller areas. Whether you create an all white kitchen or break it up with benchtops or appliances, white kitchens are timeless and are definitely here to stay.
High gloss polyurethane cabinets with push to open and finger pull doors create a sleek, modern design that is timeless. Shaker cabinets that create a Hamptons type feel is another classic and truly timeless kitchen design that never dates.
Timeless white kitchen with high gloss polyurethane cabinets, Caesarstone benchtops and stainless steel appliances – kitchen renovation by Master Bathrooms & Kitchens.
Island Benches
Kitchen island benches have done away with the traditional kitchen table and with the addition of pendant lighting, can create quite a feature to your kitchen. They not only add valuable working bench space, but can include either a sink and dishwasher or a cooktop. With the use of some clever planning and fashionable stools, these island benchtops create the perfect informal eating area for breakfasts and quick meals.
Stone Benchtops
Nothing sets off a kitchen quite like the look of stone. Stone is hard wearing and has a timeless quality. Natural stone such as granite and marble have been used in kitchens for decades and using this stone in your kitchen can become quite a feature in itself. Natural stone, does however, require annual sealing and can be difficult to keep stain free and clean. In recent years homeowners are turning to Quartz for their stone benchtops. Quartz is a manufactured stone that is stronger and easier to clean than its natural stone counterparts. Quartz comes in a large variety of designs and colours and can suit any type of kitchen. More recently, manufacturers of quartz have introduced a variety that perfectly imitate the look of natural stone, even marble with all it’s veining included. Quartz is more stain resistant than marble and granite and does not require sealing, not ever. Whatever your preference is between natural or engineered stone, either will look fantastic for decades and will not date.
Under Cabinet Lighting
This type of lighting provides extra light on your benchtops areas that prevent shadowing when preparing and cooking food when natural light is limited. Not only a practical lighting, it is a gorgeous feature lighting. Originally downlights were used for this particular lighting although, more recently LED strip lighting has become more popular.
High gloss white polyurethane cabinets, Caesarstone benchtops, stainless steel appliances and LED strip lighting – kitchen renovation by Master Bathrooms & Kitchens.
Chrome Tapware
Brass, gold and black have all had their turn in the spotlight over the years. Black particularly is on trend right now. Whilst there’s no denying any of these as a fashion statement, if your wanting timeless tapware, look no further than chrome. Chrome works in beautifully with any kitchen colour scheme and is perfectly matched with stainless steel sinks and appliances. In addition to its timeless appeal, chrome does not wear and corrode like other tapware.
Zip Hot & Chilled water taps
Incorporating an instant hot and chilled water tap in your kitchen is one of the very latest inclusions in kitchen technology. The instant boiling hot water is super convenient for cooking and completely replaces the need for your kettle allowing you more valued bench space. These units can be purchased in either the hot water alone, hot and ambient water or hot, chilled water and sparkling water. They come in a variety of designs to perfectly match your tapware and with safety mechanisms to prevent scalding. Once you have one of these gems in your kitchen, you’ll never want to be without one.
Stainless Steel Appliances
Brightly coloured big ticket appliances may be the latest in design, however these colours will go in and out of trend quite quickly and lets face it, these are expensive to replace. For truly timeless appliances, stainless steel reigns supreme. Colour can be added with smaller electrical appliances such as kettles and toasters, should the colour date, it won’t break the bank to replace them.
Stunning white shaker cabinets with Caesarstone benchtops and stainless steel appliances – kitchen renovation by Master Bathrooms & Kitchens.
Cupboards to ceiling
Having cupboards go all the way to the ceiling with a bulkhead creates a streamlined look. More contemporary styled cupboards actually look part of the wall, creating a modern built in effect adding the appearance of more space. This design also avoids the horrendous chore of having to clean on top of your cupboards, which is a huge plus in itself.
Integrated Fridges & Dishwashers
Integrated or built-in fridges and dishwashers are the next generation big ticket appliances. An integrated fridge or dishwasher sits flush with your cabinets and can be fully panelled to blend in with your kitchen. They offer a flush fit design and the ability to slide behind kitchen cabinetry hiding the appliance from sight offering a seamless, contemporary appearance. They are specifically designed so the performance of the appliance is not affected when built into your cabinetry. It is imperative to speak with your cabinet maker prior to purchase of your integrated appliance.
Deep Drawers & Smart Storage
Deep drawers are here to stay as they not only offer a contemporary look they are also practical. No more rummaging to the back of the cupboard to find what you’re looking for. Simply pull out are drawer and everything is right there in front of you ready for picking. With soft close mechanisms, these drawers are not just for pots and pans. Deep drawers can be used for your plates, cups and Tupperware items too. Smart storage such as pullout pantries work beautifully in all kitchens but are essential for smaller sized kitchens where space is limited for pantry items.
Gorgeous white with stainless steel – kitchen renovation by Master Bathrooms & Kitchens.
Pullout Bins
We go to so much trouble designing our kitchens, choosing our cabinet finish, benchtops, splashbacks and paint colours. So we don’t want to spoil our design by having to place an ugly bin visible for all to see. Bins are essential in the kitchen, however, they need not be eyesores. Pullout bins can be incorporated under the sink quite easily or if space allows, you can integrate a bin drawer into your cabinetry for a completely hidden look.
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Master Bathrooms & Kitchens have created many timeless kitchens in the Hills & Hornsby Districts. Be sure to peruse our website for more renovation inspiration and check out our Projects & Guides section for valuable renovation advice.
See our video below of just some of our gorgeous bathroom & kitchen renovations:
