Kitchen Design Trends

[Nerdy Mom]

I've noticed a number of homes following these kitchen design trends lately:

- granite countertop
Likes: dark granite, easy to clean or great at hiding pepper spills

- farmhouse kitchen sinks
Likes: copper - compliments a white kitchen really well

- cherry wood cabinets
Dislikes: not too fond of the dark woods

What are some common kitchen design trends you've been seeing lately and what about them do you like or don't you like?

[Suzanne VanGilder]

I have seen large lower drawers that can accommodate dishes and pans. I love them, and want them in my kitchen. They are a function of hardware technology, and make access easier to those hard to reach places.

[Laura Rowlett]

Oooh! I agree, Suzanne. Those new 447 Pull-Out Organizers on the Resource spread in the new issue of S&P had me fantasizing about finding my baking sheets without disassembling my oven storage drawer! And now I'm just salivating at the idea of a kitchen floor with digital ink jet-printed juice spills and 3D Cheerios to mask kid messes. Do you think its HotCoating finish might eventually offer a Microban line? :-D

[Suzanne VanGilder]

Ooh I love that idea, mommy camouflage. I think you have hit on a whole new trend. People could specify "golden retriever fur" design, or "sporadic dust bunny" which could dramatically reduce maintenance for busy moms.

Laura Rowlett said:

Oooh! I agree, Suzanne. Those new 447 Pull-Out Organizers on the Resource spread in the new issue of S&P had me fantasizing about finding my baking sheets without disassembling my oven storage drawer! And now I'm just salivating at the idea of a kitchen floor with digital ink jet-printed juice spills and 3D Cheerios to mask kid messes. Do you think its HotCoating finish might eventually offer a Microban line? :-D

[Scott Toal]

Late to this post, but one thing we have seen is an increase in the number of kitchens incorporating seating and serving areas as an extension of island counter or as a separate elevated bar over sub counter.

[Laura Rowlett]

Scott, as someone who does not have an island or abundant serving and seating space, I am curious how the additional serving area is different or more than the island itself. Is it just a bigger island with more seating area? Does this new area essentially become the island after the intended island fills up with mail and backpacks and things put up out of toddlers' reach? Do you know of any photos you could post to show what you mean?

Scott Toal said:

Late to this post, but one thing we have seen is an increase in the number of kitchens incorporating seating and serving areas as an extension of island counter or as a separate elevated bar over sub counter.

[Scott Toal]

Laura - the additional seating area or serving areas that I am speaking of may be considered countertop overhangs or extensions. While the standard countertop overhang is 1 to 4 inches past the face of the cabinets, there is a trend to increase the overhang to create seating or serving areas within the kitchen to suppliment the dinner table or serving areas at parties. When space is limited within the kitchen, there is still the possibility of creating a serving or sitting breakfast bar that is elevated and extends into a larger room of the house. These elevated counters can be supported by a bracketed half wall or on elevated counter brackets such as shown in the picture below. Of course these extended overhangs do require significant support as the weight of the counter and any additional weight associated with serving, eating or maybe even dancing (as my 4 year old is known to do) on the counter must be considered. Standard decorative corbels will not provide the necessary support so people are turning to more reliable supports such as products by Federal Brace. For more information on this I suggest you visit the resource area on www.federalbrace.com.

[Laura Rowlett]

Good info, Scott. Now I'm envisioning knocking out the wall between my kitchen and living room for a breakfast bar. It seems 1950s home construction was rooted in space-wasting design. I won't ask for photos of your 4-year-old dancing on countertops. :-D

Scott Toal said:

Laura - the additional seating area or serving areas that I am speaking of may be considered countertop overhangs or extensions. While the standard countertop overhang is 1 to 4 inches past the face of the cabinets, there is a trend to increase the overhang to create seating or serving areas within the kitchen to suppliment the dinner table or serving areas at parties. When space is limited within the kitchen, there is still the possibility of creating a serving or sitting breakfast bar that is elevated and extends into a larger room of the house. These elevated counters can be supported by a bracketed half wall or on elevated counter brackets such as shown in the picture below. Of course these extended overhangs do require significant support as the weight of the counter and any additional weight associated with serving, eating or maybe even dancing (as my 4 year old is known to do) on the counter must be considered. Standard decorative corbels will not provide the necessary support so people are turning to more reliable supports such as products by Federal Brace. For more information on this I suggest you visit the resource area on www.federalbrace.com.

[Suzanne VanGilder]

I too live in a small space, which is currently all the rage since it requires me to live as a minimalist. I deny consumer trends, save on energy costs and refuse to allow disposable plastic children's toys to accumulate in my home (that is another rant). But you do bring up, light heartedly, and interesting point. See I have children who are 5 and 6. Though someday I plan on building/renovating a home to my custom specifications, at the moment I have to live with what the condo developers installed (I am sure you can imagine how painful that is to a student of the industry such as myself).

My children seem to enjoy dancing on the bathroom counters, specifically during tooth brushing. The mother in me says," knock it off! Bathroom counters weren't designed for that, you sassy little beasts." But the engineer in me wonders what the assembly can handle. Of course, we own the place, so I am not about to turn it into a testing lab. But I wonder if there might be a good, tangible marketing opportunity here for companies whose products are vital, yet out of sight. After all, Salice capitalizes on the cuteness of golden retrievers to get their point across.

[Broc Siefert]

Having been a rock climber in an earlier life, one of the first pieces of advice given to me by someone far more experienced, was to not stay away from overhangs whenever possible. Even though it may have been sitting there for millions of years, all it may take to fracture off is the weight of a climber and/or one ill placed piton. Overhangs on countertops, which are much thinner, should be thought of in the same way. If the countertop breaks off, the fall won't be as bad (unless there is a child playing underneath) but it will be expensive as every piece of granite in the room may need to be replaced as the same stone may no longer be available. As Scott pointed out in his message, the likelyhood of this happening can be eliminated, or at least drastically reduced, by using well designed and supportive braces. Wooden corbels may be pretty but they really won't do the job.

[Laura Rowlett]

Broc, the thought of rock climbing in the mountains makes my hands sweat. Reading your post conjured visions of cliffhanging a la roadrunner and coyote. It's good to know there's something out there more reliable than Acme brackets. And your reference to a slab of granite falling onto a playing child could be a pretty powerful, albeit macabre, marketing message! Seriously, though, now I'm wondering if Federal Brace is often used for aesthetics (and function) with laminate decorative surfaces on composite substrates or even composite solid surfaces where the decor paper prints closely resemble "real" solid stone and thus seem as though they should have all the advantages of heavy-duty supports.

Broc Siefert said:

Having been a rock climber in an earlier life, one of the first pieces of advice given to me by someone far more experienced, was to not stay away from overhangs whenever possible. Even though it may have been sitting there for millions of years, all it may take to fracture off is the weight of a climber and/or one ill placed piton. Overhangs on countertops, which are much thinner, should be thought of in the same way. If the countertop breaks off, the fall won't be as bad (unless there is a child playing underneath) but it will be expensive as every piece of granite in the room may need to be replaced as the same stone may no longer be available. As Scott pointed out in his message, the likelyhood of this happening can be eliminated, or at least drastically reduced, by using well designed and supportive braces. Wooden corbels may be pretty but they really won't do the job.

[Broc Siefert]

Laura, you are not the first, nor will you be the last, to point out my bluntness. It is a curse I'll carry with me forever. Yes, Federal Brace brackets are often used for aesthetic qualities but this is only secondary to the superior support they provide. It is kind like making your cake and eating it to. I can only think of one instance when our brackets were used under a laminate although there might have been many more as I only talk to a small number of those who place orders. Thinking about it though, a laminate overhang is flexible and should be stiffened with braces if for no other reason than the annoyance of having to replace that part of the countertop if it cracks or delaminates. Also, think about all thes spilt milk caused by a counter that bounces about like some sort of stiff trampoline. There I go again---overstatement. I told you this is a curse!

[Laura Rowlett]

In response to an article about European-influenced modern kitchen design by Hufft Projects, Lanny Danenberg of Danenberg Design commented about Hufft Projects' use of woods with stainless steel and glass. She mentions how such is trending in the San Francisco Bay Area, where her firm brings eclectic distinction to kitchens, wardrobes and baths. I particularly like Danenberg Design's international influence and use of organically shaped edges in glass, tile and solid surfaces as well as complex layering of tiered translucent surfaces for kitchen islands and bars. That effect creates a lightness in contrast with complimentary massive solid surfaces and generously proportioned lower cabinet units. Most of what I've seen in Danenberg's gallery perfectly embodies the European style Surface & Panel began to explore as a landing trend in the U.S. market. I expect it will be a long while before I see this popularize in Indiana, but I do appreciate the clean lines and no-nonsense design these frameless cabinets offer. Also, I'm digging the combination of solid colors and woodgrains with coordinating variation in the countertops.