Ten tips for a stunning kitchen design

Ten tips for a stunning kitchen design While every kitchen designer and homeowner has specific ideas on style, the overall trend is toward simpler living and low-maintenance design, but with accent marks of colour and splash that don’t overpower.

This aesthetic extends from clean and simple kitchen cabinetry to “bulletproof” countertops such as ceasarstone or marble. Wood flooring and solid “pops” of glass colour and textures. The trend toward simplicity is also manifested in a growing demand for safer, healthier and more sustainable homes.

10. Kitchen Cabinetry:

A clean, simple, contemporary look will be popular with homeowners looking to economise and eliminate unnecessary clutter and fussy details that equate to high maintenance and complicated living.

9. Countertops Stone:

Granite has been dethroned. While granite isn’t going away and still has many die-hard fans, the new king of countertops will be quartz composite — the closest thing to no maintenance, bullet-proof countertop materials available today. Ceasarstone is used as a brand name and has come to be synonymous with composite stone. Kitchen designers like this as it is consistent and they can specify it into kitchen projects knowing what will turn up, unlike a natural stone which exhibits variation.

8. Countertops Marble:

Synonymous with luxury, Calacatta marble will find its way into both traditional and contemporary kitchens. Calacatta is a rarer stone than Carrara marble, but is quarried in the same region. It is valued for a whiter background and bolder grey veins.

7. Hardwood Floors:

Pre-finished and engineered wood flooring will become more popular than the once gold-standard of site-finished flooring. Pre-finished woods provide a hard, durable finish, are an installation time saver, and eliminate the sanding dust dilemma. Engineered wood floors are also compatible with under-floor heating systems, a big plus in cold climates. In Victoria, many of us are still married to ducted heating, which is gas fired.

6. Glass Splash back:

Glass mosaic tile is out. Taking its place are glass/stone/tile mosaic composites that can add more texture and visual interest and that tie in more readily with stone or quartz countertops, or the stone composite itself, which creates a seamless look. Be on the lookout for back-painted, solid glass panel splashbacks in contemporary settings, which provides an ultra-clean, almost ethereal look to a polished, modern kitchen setting.

5. Stylishly Simple Sinks:

Most common now are double sinks recessed into the stone top. Often the drainer is recessed too; this makes for a sleek designer look. With accessories such as fitted colanders and dish drains, plus the large size to actually fit that roasting pan or those baking sheets into the sink all at once. Stainless is still popular, but the quartz composites are a great value and durable option.

4. Colour Palette:

Charcoal is the new black. 2013 will find this silky colour everywhere as it blends the right amount of chocolate, grey and a touch of green.

3. Texture and Sparkle:

Bedazzled may find its way into home décor and design as homeowners seek a blend of classic textures and colours with pops of bold colour and elements of sparkle. Glossy glass tile backsplashes and sparkle on polished nickel fixtures trend in 2013.

2. Living In Your Home Longer/Multi-Generational Living:

With many certified aging-in-place specialists (CAPS), kitchen designers predict a growing trend to help aging baby boomers safely “grow old” in their homes, for as long as possible. Watch for easy kitchen and bath upgrades to enhance functionality, comfort and safety.

1. Healthy Home, Healthy Living:

Green and sustainable design is here to stay. The number one trend for 2013 will be to create a healthy living environment, free of toxins and harsh chemicals. More and more homeowners are taking advantage of federal and state incentives to evaluate their home’s energy efficiency and overall performance. Upgrade trends include the use of low VOC materials to improve indoor air quality, testing combustion safety, and radon mitigation.

If you’d like to have one of our award winning designers come and chat with you about your next kitchen renovation, call us on 1300 662 838 today. You can also get our advice guide for more inspiration about your dream kitchen.