WHAT’S COOKING IN KITCHENS?
Today’s design trends are all about cool contrast, less gloss and clever functionality
At a different time, when it was more popularly accepted that children should be seen and not heard, kitchens were to be neither seen nor heard.
Tucked into tiny spaces behind closed doors, the residential kitchen was purely functional and the exclusive domain of homemakers and domestic helpers. The idea that it would become the most important and celebrated space in a home would have been unfathomable.
But that’s exactly what’s transpired. Somewhere along the way, expectations of the kitchen (and its design) dramatically elevated. For many, the kitchen is now the undisputed heart of the home and family life — and where everyone seems to gather at a party.
Even when average home sizes were on the decline, kitchens were still proportionally growing. Far from being relegated to the outskirts, the kitchen is now at the literal centre. Today’s homeowners prefer their kitchens placed squarely in the middle, on full display, and void of constricting walls.
With the kitchen occupying such a prominent spot, it’s no surprise there’s a plethora of publications, books, blogs and sites devoted to its design. Obsessed homeowners proudly curate Pinterest boards and stuff overflowing accordion files with images and ideas gathered for their dream kitchen. As the most visible room in a home, and with the increasingly high price tag associated with its components, there’s understandable interest in getting it just right.
In that spirit, here’s a list of the best new products to further fatten those kitchen design files: Cabinets: Although it’s possible to have a boiled-down view of kitchen cabinets as basic wood boxes, they really are so much more. Aside from the construction aspect — plywood boxes and solid wood doors are still the gold standard — there’s the important matters of esthetics and function. Open almost any design magazine from the last 10 years and you will notice the unmistakable influence of Nancy Meyer’s film Something ’s Gotta Give.
From the moment Diane Keaton first walked into her Hamptons house, homeowners everywhere took notice of the timeless charm her character’s transitional white kitchen exuded. Ever since, white kitchens have dominated.
Nearly 13 years after that film debuted, cabinet colour trends have finally pivoted to warm greys and dramatic blacks.
“The current trend in black finishes showcase depth of colour,” said Stephanie Pierce, director of design and trends for MasterBrand Cabinets. “This translates to finish textures that allow for variety in light reflectivity or translucency in shades ranging from dark charcoal to deep black. When done right, black can convey a dramatic elegance not attainable with other colours.”
Outside of the esthetics, there’s also been a focus at MasterBrand on how cabinets work. To address functionality, its Omega division rethought how conventional cabinet doors open, thereby allowing for more storage and space, with cabinets that slide side to side, rather than out and into precious walkway space. Even for kitchens not size-challenged, maximizing storage and creating a sense of space is high on nearly every kitchen wish list. Countertops: Countertops are widely considered workhorses of the kitchen, so there’s an inordinate amount of pressure to get them right. With granite resembling a dated ’80s remnant but on-trend marble so susceptible to staining and scratching, quartz has emerged as the perfect problemsolver by delivering a wide palette of esthetic options accompanied by superhero durability without the need to reseal.
It’s nearly all the good with none of the bad. And Cambria has been focused on growing quartz’s dominance by continually delivering new products to address changing design trends. A few years back, Cambria introduced its marble collection to address consumer desire for a marble esthetic without staining, scratching or constant maintenance. It was a game-changer for those who love the look of white marble but not its delicacy, resulting in a big hit for the company.
Cambria’s most recent efforts focus on addressing the growing trend for less shiny, honed finishes that exhibit an understated sophistication through smooth, but not flashy, surfaces. The problem for Cambria, however, had been figuring out how to keep its product’s maintenance-free characteristics since honed finishes also mean increased vulnerability to staining.
“The high demand for a softer honed-finish esthetic is definitely there, but we first needed to address the undesirable soiling issues that typically come with it,” said Summer Kath, Cambria’s senior vice-president of business development. “After a great deal of innovative, hard work, we’ve created a new matte finish that’s nonporous and maintenance-free, so we can confidently stand behind its performance.”
Which is great news for those of us who want to have our cake, eat it too, then confidently place our dirty dish on a matte countertop without penalty. Hardware: Of all the ways to esthetically update your kitchen, changing your cabinet hardware may be the easiest to tackle. Often considered the bling in your kitchen, cabinet hardware is the jewelry that generates a visual spark.
To ensure longevity, seek out solid brass or bronze foundations, keeping in mind that the metal finish is an independent decision. Foundations in brass (a copper and zinc alloy) or bronze (mostly copper) will hold up better than lesser metals. Among high-quality and thoughtfully designed hardware introductions, Emtek’s Urban Modern collection is a standout, addressing much of what’s current in design.
“This collection, offered in five finishes, complements a range of interior styles from transitional cottages to upscale residential lofts,” Emtek creative director William Zhang said. “The look is utilitarian, purposeful, and designed to support comfortable, attractive spaces, while retaining the spirit of the industrial roots of reclaimed buildings.”
As for finishes, satin brass and polished chrome both seem to be jockeying for top position. Though the presence of satin brass in magazines seems nearly inescapable, silvery, polished chrome is definitely on the rise and being touted for its adaptability, timelessness and modernity.
Paint: Thanks to serious innovation on the part of Sherwin-Williams, colour and finish aren’t the only major decisions to make when selecting your kitchen paint. In what is one of the most germ-filled rooms in your home, you can now add bacteria-killing paint to your arsenal of disinfectants.
In a first, Sherwin-Williams recently introduced Paint Shield, a microbicidal paint that purportedly kills more than 99.9 per cent of bacteria within two hours of exposure to painted surfaces. And it claims to continue killing 90 per cent of bacteria, even after repeated contamination, with an effectiveness lasting up to four years when surface integrity hasn’t been compromised.
With the constant presence of two kids, four dogs and thawing chicken breasts, my family’s kitchen is a prime candidate. A cleaner, more bacteria-free kitchen simply through a new coat of paint? Sign me up.
With time-crunched families juggling more now than ever, a great kitchen can have tremendous power to not only transform your home, but your life as well. Whether you’re looking for a quick spruce-up with a simple hardware update and a fresh coat of paint, or a dramatic overhaul through high-performing cabinetry and countertops, know your options and invest in the best. After all, a thoughtful kitchen can boost quality time with family and friends.