Kitchen Design Trends for 2011
It’s a strange but compelling time for contemporary kitchen design. The hunger for a new style direction is consuming any new material or format that pokes its head out of the ground. The old carthorse of white minimalist kitchens with high-gloss contemporary cabinetry and handleless doors is still thriving and will continue to do so for many years to come. However, curves and malleable materials are becoming more present from higher end designer kitchen companies. Corian, Hi-Macs and other acrylic solid surfaces are making a strong case as they are the only kitchen materials hard wearing enough to mould into exotic, ergonomics shapes.
At the latest European showcase, showstoppers included curved kitchen islands that combined the majority of required appliances with organic shaped breakfast bars incorporated into curved cabinetry to form ergonomic shapes wrapping around the user. They certainly look the part but would probably not be right for the majority of kitchen spaces. Designs like these are really to be used in very large spaces. As a result, these designs aesthetics can be cued from and incorporated in more normal kitchen designs. The only way to achieve this aesthetic is in a more tailored manner by having bespoke cabinetry designed and made just for your space. However, the island is also returning to a use of a singular dining area with a separate area for food preparation.
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What’s New in Modern Kitchen Design?
Modern homes are actually starting to decrease in size for the first time in decades. After blowing out of proportion for years, homes are starting to get back to reasonable sizes as people focus on the essentials. This doesn’t mean, though, that people are necessarily spending less on new houses and remodels. What it means is that they are choosing to splurge more wisely, saving money on square footage but putting in back into other amenities in the home. One of the most popular splurge spots in many homes right now is the kitchen, which is regaining its foothold as the heart of the home.
Modern kitchen design is surprisingly focused on functionality. After a long, fast-food-ridden hiatus, today’s health standards and family ideals are drawing us back to slow food and home cooking. More people are spending time actually crafting meals in the kitchen rather than simply tossing something from the freezer to the oven or microwave. This means that kitchens aren’t thrown together for looks; they are carefully designed to be convenient for the cook.
Tags: bakers racks, baking and cooking, family ideals, heart of the home, rolling pins