The Chronicle Herald (Provincial)
Cool colours hot trends for 2022
These three important trends can help you start planning your kitchen reno
Cooler colours like blue, green and grey have a longer-lasting appeal than warmer colours like yellow or red.
Spending more time cooking at home has made me realize how important the many elements of my kitchen are. As a designer and at-home chef, the kitchen not only has to be esthetically pleasing, it must function at a high level. I renovated mine 12 years ago, and since kitchens usually have a lifespan of about 15 years before needing some TLC, I’m hoping I have another three years before it needs a refresh.
What about you? Is your kitchen nearing the 15-year mark and in need of some updated good looks and improvements in functionality? If so, these three important trends for 2022 can help you start planning your reno. You might say, they’re your recipe for success!
MIXING CABINETRY
One of the first things to consider with a new kitchen is the layout of cabinetry. Are there opportunities to go higher with your upper cabinets?
Can you include a peninsula or island for more workspace? Or can you incorporate a small home office area?
Once you consider the layout, then choose your cabinetry, which will determine the look of your kitchen. Like a classic suit, your cabinetry will get lots of use. Choose wisely by opting for a look that you will enjoy for a long time. If you love colour in the kitchen, then you have struck gold — it’s the biggest trend in kitchen cabinetry.
Cooler colours like blue, green and grey have a longerlasting appeal than warmer colours like yellow or red. To add warmth and balance to cooler colours, use nature-based warm colours in the backsplash, floors and countertops. Tip: If you love colour but are afraid to go allout, consider designing the kitchen with two colours of cabinetry. Lighter on top and darker on bottom is a design rule that works every time.
BLACK FAUCETS
If cabinetry is like a good suit, then a faucet and cabinetry hardware are like jewellery for a kitchen. With so many styles and finishes available, it’s easy to give your kitchen a custom look while gaining a hardworking element. If you are really jonesing for the latest trend, the investment won’t be so large that you can’t change up these elements every few years.
Right now, darker finishes like bronze for a traditional look or matte black for a contemporary kitchen are making a splash in faucets and cabinetry hardware. The beauty of matte black is that you can add other metallic finishes, such as shiny brass or silver tones, in items like
lighting. Tip: If you mix metal colours, choose different finishes, like one matte and one polished.
WOOD COUNTERTOPS
For the last 20 years, stone has been all the rage for kitchen countertops. Although durable, it can be cold to look at and also to the touch. Wood countertops bring a natural, organic element to kitchen design, are non-slip safe if cutting on
them and are warmer to the touch than stone. They are also more forgiving than natural stone if a glass is dropped — and scratches and stains are removed easier.
Maintaining wood countertops is fairly simple: Oil them (use a hard-wax oil that is food safe) when they lose their lustre, use a high-grade sandpaper to remove stains and minor scratches and be sure to use proper wood cutting boards if you want your wood countertops to stay pristine.
When used on an island, acacia hardwood (a fastgrowing, renewable hardwood) creates a focal point of warmth and brings the casual look of wood, which works
well with tiled floors and painted kitchen cupboards. Tip: If you have wood flooring or cabinetry, choose a different stain colour for wood countertops. Too much of a good thing is not a good thing.