Ten Hot Trends in Kitchen Design

Remodeling your kitchen is a big task, so you want to make sure you get it right. Whether you're a gourmet chef or a harried single parent, there’s a design idea here for you. Before you start tearing out the old and putting in the new, consider these options:



  • Add an extra sink: The more you cook, the more you clean. An extra sink can work as either a food preparation station or as a cleanup area.



  • Spread out workstations: Just as two sinks are becoming more popular, so are multiple work areas. When a family has more cooks, then several people are working in the kitchen at one time. Giving each person her own workstation makes kitchen tasks flow more smoothly.



  • Create an island: As kitchen square footage gets bigger, the possibilities for a center island grow, too. An island can be a food preparation area if a sink is installed, a cooking area if a cooktop is installed, or a serving area.



  • Entertain in the kitchen: Today, more people use the kitchen for a gathering place, so more time is being spent in the kitchen. That’s why computer stations and TVs are becoming part of the equipment found in today’s kitchens.



  • Create an eat-in area: Just grabbing a quick snack? Want to just stand while you eat and chat with friends? Well, you don’t need to pull out a chair and sit at the table anymore. Breakfast bars or casual eating areas are being included in today’s kitchen designs. Stools and booths are also popular, instead of the traditional table and chairs.



  • Gather the family: Families are spending more time in the kitchen, so the overall design of many kitchens is to make them more open and inviting for the family to be together. Creating areas, even small ones, such as a workstation or computer work area makes your kitchen feel more like home. The fact that more of the family’s activities go on in the kitchen makes it feel more like the place to meet.



  • Create a kid-friendly kitchen: Most kids love to cook and be part of the action. Multiple-level workstations (varying countertop heights, in particular) are making it easier for children to become part of the food preparation and cooking aspect of family life. Making the kitchen kid friendly is also a great way for you to spend time with your kids!



  • Merge kitchens with the rest of the house: There used to be a distinct separation between the kitchen and other rooms — well, not anymore. Today’s designers are merging the kitchen with adjoining rooms, such as a den or dining room, to create an open and inviting floor plan and traffic flow.



  • Add decorative touches: Little additions can make a huge difference in the look of your kitchen. Adding moldings, pot racks, trim on countertops, and even fancy drawer and door hardware can change an ordinary kitchen into one that seems ready for a home tour.



  • Visit Europe without leaving home: European kitchen styling is very popular. The open work areas and the large serving areas make the European-style kitchen design a popular choice for many homeowners.



  • Tone for elegance: Dark wood tones are back, especially cherry and maple. The richness of the wood creates both elegance and warmth and makes a kitchen a most inviting room to spend time in.






dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/ten-hot-trends-in-kitchen-design.html

No comments:

Post a Comment