Clean lines, a modern spin on classics and more informal dining space are what’s hot in kitchen design for 2017.
Kitchens remain one of the most popular rooms in the home.
Airoom Architects, Builders and Remodelers in Lincolnwood, find the kitchen to be one of the most requested rooms for remodeling and a focus for new construction, according to Pam Morris, Kitchen and Bath Designer for Airoom.
“Kitchens are the hub of activity, they are used every day, many times a day, and get worn out, people get tired of them, they don’t like the layout, and they long for the looks they see in magazines, online, in their friends’ kitchens, etc. This is why they are so popular,” she says.
Amanda Mason, Senior Design Director for Belgravia Group, says when they are working with clients on home design they typically start in the kitchen because it sets the palette for a cohesive look for the home.
Just like in other areas, trends in kitchen design are influenced by many areas.
Fashion, images, pictures people took on a vacation and popular apps, websites and TV shows related to home design all help people envision their future kitchens, Mason says.
Easy access to popular culture and endless images has a lot of influence on people, according to Morris.
“The leading designers present the ideas, and they trickle through the industry,” she says. “Houzz and HGTV have a lot of influence in the people psychology, and that comes back to the designers that host the shows and are setting trends.”
Size is subjective
With kitchens as the center of the home, owners and buyers put a lot of thought into their kitchen design.
At Airoom they see a lot of homeowners interested in expanding their kitchens.
As we head into 2017, Morris says they are getting more and more requests for clean lines in kitchens.
“Even though you see a lot of open shelves being shown, they aren’t practical for most homeowners,” she says.
Most of the home is driven by the kitchen’s floor plan.
“Almost everyone wants a larger kitchen with seating around an island and sometimes a separate breakfast nook,” says Morris. “Formal dining rooms have had a downward trend but some still feel they need it for resale. We are seeing an increase in large informal dining areas open to the kitchen.”
At Renelle on the River, Belgravia’s luxury condominiums in Chicago, buyers are more interested in the layout of the kitchen, Mason says.
“They aren’t necessarily wanting larger, but they want to maximize their storage space with the space they have to work with,” she says. Belgravia, she says, prides itself on offering a wide range of options because clients can range from young couples to empty nesters and they don’t always want the same designs. Some like a more private kitchen with a separate dining room that opens to the family room. Others, she says, prefer a more open design with the kitchen flowing into other entertainment spaces.
Every man an island
One constant in the kitchen has been the desire to have an island. This trend has not faded and continues to be a popular feature in kitchens for 2017.
“People still want the island storage and countertop space,” Mason says. “Many people enjoy a more casual place to eat.” She adds that for many it is a nice alternative to their formal dining area.
Airoom continues to see the popularity of islands as a social space to gather, but also as a necessity.
“Many clients want to remove a wall dividing the kitchen from an adjacent family room space so the island offers storage and counter space that would otherwise be lost. An island creates definition between the areas, serves as a primary work surface, and entertaining hub,” explains Morris. “Almost everyone would like an island if they could fit one in their kitchen. Almost all clients that have open floor plans in a kitchen ask for an island.”
Fun with finishes
A past trend in kitchens — using many different colors — is going away and being replaced with clean lines, more neutrals and simple, elegant designs, Morris says.
Middle of the road stain colors, speckled granites and busy accent tiles in backsplashes have become less popular, according to Morris.
“Taking their places are the grey tones on any and all woods, especially alder, white, rift cut, and red oak, as well as the real dark and/or the painted woods,” she says. “Quartzites are popular for light colored countertops, and quartz countertops are still popular.”
Mason says the modern spin on classics includes materials such as Calcutta Gold marble for countertops and products that mimic natural stone.
Tile backsplashes without accents — cleaner, simpler or even full height backsplashes that match the countertops will be seen in more kitchens this year, Morris says.
Also, a small unique finish, is giving kitchens a personal touch. This includes an element either on an island countertop or a cabinet or some metal trim framing out an area, says Morris, adding the unique finishes apply to all styles: contemporary, traditional, or transitional kitchens.
Plumbing finishes also are seeing a shift, Mason says. While polished chrome and satin finishes are still popular more buyers are looking at matte black and pewter.
“These muted metal finishes offer a modern elegance,” she says.
Overall function still remains a priority for homeowners and buyers when they look at their kitchens wanting to maximize storage space, a nice flow for meal preparation and enjoyment and enough room for family to gather.
