Kitchen appliance trends nowadays are sleek and smart

Kitchen appliances work hard. They’re also getting smarter. Homeowners want them to look good, too, or else not be visible at all when they’re not in use.

Some choose to hide small appliances like mixers, blenders and microwaves under the counter or inside cabinets. “They’re trying to put less and less on their countertops,” said Jordana MacDonald of Coral Gables Kitchen and Bath.

“Putting these out of sight places the focus on the cabinetry and creates a clean look overall,” said Peggy Marker, president of Fort Lauderdale-based Marker Construction.

CLADDING

Some homeowners choose to clad larger units like refrigerators and dishwashers with the same finishes as cabinets. “A lot of people want their kitchens to look like there aren’t any appliances in them,” said Tim Cardillo, showroom consultant at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting Gallery in Fort Lauderdale. “They want them to look like cabinets.”

“Paneled refrigerators have become more popular,” said Javier Dominguez of Bouche Appliances in Miami. Some, he added, are so sleek they don’t have handles. “They have automatic door openers that you can just touch.”

Not everyone prefers — or can afford — the paneled look. But stainless, once ubiquitous in kitchens, is not as popular as it once was. “We’re seeing more white appliances,” said Hillary Hertzberg, Realtor associate with The Jills in Miami. “We used to see more stainless.”

“White is trending because it blends with white cabinets,” said Lori Dolnick, a spokeswoman for Italian-made Verona Appliances. Column refrigerators