12 Kitchen Design Trends to Watch In 2020
The Kitchen is the Heart of Your Home Here's Why!
Back in the day, the kitchen was a utilitarian space, often tucked away in the back where meals were prepared, and dishes were washed. Today, tastes and lifestyles have changed. Many homes feature an open concept, with the kitchen prominently displayed and a central visual focal point that can set the tone for your entire home design!
Styles, designs, and kitchens themselves have evolved and changed over the decades. Planning and design are essential for a successful remodel. Kitchen design trends, technological advances, and changing social dynamics have given birth to the modern kitchen. The showcasing of the kitchen has risen with the trend toward open concept design. The entire concept revolves around the kitchen and the desire to keep the family physically connected.
With modern design trends moving solidly toward clean and simple, this style has become a favorite for homeowners and designers alike. The open concept can increase the natural light in the home. This is becoming an essential element of the overall style and functionality of the kitchen.
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Here at Toulmin Kitchen & Bath, our team works hard to stay current with the latest kitchen design trends. Here are a dozen that have grown in 2020 and that we expect to see more of in the new year!
1. The Rise of the Smart Kitchen!
Technology is embedded in the average kitchen in the form of appliances and fancy gadgets. Today, technology and the Internet of Things means technology is found in almost every function of every appliance from the faucet to the lighting to the stove. Not only are they functional independently, but they also communicate with each other! Welcome to the smart kitchen!
Smart kitchens are becoming more common in remodels and are an evolving aspect of design. Many kitchens today are built smart from the ground up. Older kitchens that are being upgraded with sensors, smart gadgets, and other devices can be added by the homeowner. For example, easy upgrades include motion sensor-equipped faucets with a one-touch or voice-activated feature. This is one of the biggest current trends and is only expected to grow in popularity as new technologies come to light.
Check out some of our favorite smart home technological innovations!
2. Dark Cabinets Are Back!
For the last number of years, the dominant color trend in kitchen cabinetry was classic white. It makes sense. White is classic and can work with any style. However, we've been noticing trends incorporating color into cabinet design, and all-white kitchens are slowly on the way out. Designers are incorporating techniques like an island that includes paint or wood stain colors. Another popular design trend is the "tuxedo" look – white uppers with dark base cabinetry. The most popular "pops" of color are in the blue and green shades. Another color palette making its way into kitchen design is dark jewel tones like black, navy, emerald green, and even plum!
3. Contrasting Countertops
Another technique for adding a major dramatic flair to your design is to use contrasting counter materials with cabinetry colors and multiple colors in the kitchen. For example, white oak cabinetry with dark granite or soapstone countertops not only defines the kitchen area, they also add a level of sophistication and warmth to the space.
4. High-Quality, High-Performance, Countertops
For years, natural stone countertops, whether granite or marble, were the first choice of homeowners and designers alike. Today, there is a significant move away from these materials as homeowners want aesthetic beauty and low-maintenance surfaces that are impervious to staining. As manufacturing technology has improved, manmade materials like quartz, nano glass, and large format porcelain look incredibly natural. They are durable and are scratch, stain, and chemical resistant.
5. Streamlined Materials, Textures, and Designs
While sleek, streamlined styles like industrial, farmhouse, and mid-century modern are still popular, homeowners are looking for even more streamlined aesthetics, designs, and alternative materials. Stress-free designs that incorporate clean, uncluttered lines, appliance garages, and other storage to keep designs simple with a modern aesthetic are all the rage. They will continue to be a hit with designers and homeowners. One element of this trend is removing upper cabinets and installing open shelving. This opens up the visual space and makes the kitchen appear larger and brighter.
However, streamlined doesn't have to mean boring. Consider materials that incorporate texture. For example, make open shelving rough cut wood to bring in natural elements, or use metal tubing for a more industrial look. Natural stone flooring can become a strong visual element and the perfect focal point. You can even look up... coffered, tray, or wood beam ceilings are excellent choices to consider!
6. Slab Backsplashes
Large format slab porcelain is a new material that is making big waves! A slab backsplash adds just the right amount of elegance and drama to kitchen design. It's a clean, low-maintenance material that can give your kitchen a continuity that tale can't match.
7. Double Islands
With open-concept designs, kitchens have taken a more prominent role and become more extensive. Expanding the function and maintaining traffic flow is integral. Double islands are an excellent way to divide the area between meal prep and serving. Add dual sinks, and clean-up is a breeze!
8. Effective Cabinetry Storage Solutions
One of the biggest frustrations with cabinetry is the inefficient use of space. The way basic shelves and drawers are structured creates a lot of wasted space. Storage is one of the foundations of a functional kitchen. Homeowners are beginning to turn to solutions like appliance garages for small appliance storage, drawer dividers for cutlery and utensils, pull-outs for spices, pot and pan caddies, wastebasket cabinets for kitchen trash and recycling. These accessories make it easier to store food, drinks, and small appliances.
9. Porcelain and Ceramic Tile Flooring
While hardwood is still a popular choice, new manufacturing technology has allowed manufacturers to produce realistic looming tiles that mimic natural materials like stone and wood. That means that you can have the look of wood but with an easier to maintain, durable, and cheaper material. In terms of size, today, you have a wide range of larger format tiles. You can get single plank tiles that resemble hardwood once laid down on the floor.
10. Indoor/Outdoor Living
Connecting the kitchen to your outdoor space is a growing trend. By installing a glass door, or stackable wall, you can connect these two spaces in your home. Another growing trend is removing the small window by the sink and replacing it with 5 or 6 foot wide windows to open up the space and let in more natural light.
11. Warm Finishes
There is a place for gray and white kitchens. However, there is a rise in homeowners choosing warm finishes like old-school wood cabinetry paired with a soft natural material like soapstone or quartzite, and tumbled marble floors.
12. Open Shelving
Open shelving has been a growing trend for a few years now. It's a way to turn dishes and glassware storage into décor. Today, designers are using open shelving to hold antique cookware, gilded vintage glasses, or old copper pots. This blending of old and new is a warm look that both designers and homeowners embrace.
Here at Toulmin Kitchen & Bath, we stay on top of all of the latest design trends to bring our client's the latest information and design sensibilities. We work closely with our clients to help them understand all of their options when planning and designing their new kitchen. We know which trends are "trendy" and which have the legs to become classic design. We work to incorporate timeless design into every kitchen we create!
If you live in the West Central Alabama area, and you're planning a kitchen remodeling project, give the design experts at Toulmin Kitchen & Bath a call at (205) 366-0807. Our design team can help educate you on all of the choices of materials available to you. Let us help you to create your dream kitchen to meet your needs now and into the future! Schedule a free no-obligation consultation to discuss your project.
