What's Cooking in the Kitchen: 7 trends in remodeling and design
May 26, 2010 12:14 PM
The recession has impacted kitchen design.
1. Function rivals form. As always, today's consumers want a kitchen that looks good, but not at the expense of function. That tracks with an informal poll we conducted last month on reasons for remodeling, in which almost as many people remodeling expressed a desire to make their kitchen more functional for cooking as those who indicated they want to update its style.
2. Separate kitchens are returning. A lot people still want an open kitchen that integrates with the rest of the house. But not everyone. "We've had a lot of clients, younger ones in particular, saying they like a closed-off kitchen," says Chicago architect Pam Lamaster-Millett. "They want that separate space for cooking."
3. Granite is not the only rock in town. Engineered quartz is starting to challenge the granite as go-to countertop material, thanks to its vibrant color palette and because it doesn't need sealing to be stain resistant. Nearly three quarters of certified kitchen designers specified quartz, according to the National Kitchen & Bath Association's "2010 Kitchen & Bath Style Report" (PDF).
4. Cabinetry is getting simpler. Cabinets with ornate details are being replaced by cabinets with simpler profiles, including Shaker-style cabinets. With their plain-box designs, they're cheaper to build and easier to keep clean. Consumers who save on cabinet design are adding features that maximize interior storage, including pullout shelves and lazy Susans.
5. Induction cooking is heating up. This impressive technology on cooktops or ranges is now more affordable. In our latest tests, the Frigidaire Professional FPCC3085k[S] 30-inch cooktop, $1,100, and the Samsung FTQ307NWGX 30-inch induction range, $1,900, are delivering top performance.
6. Green is going mainstream. High-efficiency appliances, low-VOC paints, and formaldehyde-free cabinets are now available at more affordable prices, so you don't have to spend more to green your remodel.
7. LED lighting is coming. Several designers from around the country told us they're using more LEDs for recessed canister lights and undercabinet fixtures. (Read about the Cree CR6 LED recessed downlight.) What's more, Osram Sylvania and Philips plan to introduce LEDs bulbs that can replace a 60-watt incandescent bulb later this year; GE is expected to follow in 2011.
—Daniel DiClerico
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