In many homes, the kitchen is more than a room just for cooking. While convenient meal preparation is still an important component of kitchen planning and design, other activities are often incorporated. In addition to cooking, homeowners often use kitchen areas for eating, gathering, homework, relaxing, and entertaining. Here are some current kitchen trends to consider if you’re updating or remodeling the kitchen in your home:
Kitchens that open onto other living areas, such as dens, living rooms, dining rooms, and keeping rooms remain popular. Open concept kitchens permit as easy traffic flow and enable cooks to be part of other activities and conversations during meal preparation.
Many kitchens designs today incorporate more deep, wide drawers instead of cabinets and shelves. Drawers often provide more convenient and easy access storage for pots, pans, dishes, and kitchen gadgets than shelves do, largely because it’s easier to reach items in the back of a drawer than it is to reach them on the back of a shelf.
Pendant lighting and multiple fixtures over bars and islands often replace single ceiling lights and cans for a more designer look. A wide range of lighting choices in these categories can complement and home decor scheme.
Prep kitchen areas that can be closed off when not in use are a growing trend. If you don’t have the budget or the space for an entirely separate prep kitchen area, some homeowners are choosing to have two islands with one designated for prep and the other used for serving.
Instead of separate breakfast nooks, eat-in kitchens are popular in many new home designs. This is accomplished by leaving enough room to have a table and chairs in the kitchen itself, or by having a breakfast bar or island bar big enough to accommodate several diners.
With more couples and families cooking together, another popular trend is to have two sinks in a kitchen design so to facilitate multiple cooks working at the same time. Oftentimes, the second sink is smaller and is installed in an island or bar area.
The installation of pot fillers over the cook top are a growing trend. In addition to giving an upscale feel to kitchens, these fixtures prevent cooks from lugging heavy water-filled pots between the sink and stove.
Wine coolers or racks provide an upmarket touch while adding needed storage space to kitchens. Wine coolers come in a variety of sizes, including under counter designs. Racks can be placed above or below kitchen counters or included in pantry areas.
Backsplash designs are being used to make decorative statements in kitchens by adding color and texture. Some homeowners select bold backsplash options, while others prefer more subdued choices. Either way backsplashes facilitate easy cleanup and help protect walls from splashes and grease buildup.
No matter what kitchen design you choose, make sure your home investment is protected with an HSA Home Warranty. An HSA Home Warranty provides valuable coverage for mechanical system components and many home appliances and helps remove the stress of finding qualified and experienced contractors in the event of a covered failure. Unlike design trends and home fashions, sensible budget protection for your home never goes out of style.