In late 2015, some wonderful kitchen design trends have begun to emerge. If you’re considering redoing your kitchen in 2016 there’s a lot to choose from, and the good news is that the trends bring together style and practicality.
Designer and Laurysen VP Caroline Castrucci gives us a quick overview of what’s hot now:
Cabinet Styles
There’s something for fans of both modern and traditional looks in 2016. No matter which way you go, the hottest wood right now is walnut.
Materials
Walnut is a beautiful medium-toned wood with a rich grain pattern. It’s a hardwood, so it’s resistant to scratch damage.
Melamine is also still popular because it’s so practical and budget-friendly. It’s also available in tons of different colours and textures.
Finishes
A few years ago, high-gloss finishes were everywhere. In 2015 and 2016, however, people are looking for a more mellow matte or low-sheen finish on their kitchen cabinets and drawers.
If they’re not after subtle, customers sometimes go for bold texture more and more, especially in contemporary kitchens. We have some beautiful patterned woods in one-piece (or “slab”) doors and a lot of our customers are choosing these finishes to add visual interest in a subtle way.
Wider Rails in 5-Piece Door Styles
For traditional cabinetry fans, we’re still seeing a lot of the 5-piece doors because they really do last well and can easily be updated if you want to freshen up the look of your kitchen.
The difference is that the rails (the pieces that make up the visible frame) are a little wider now, often 5 inches wide. As a result look just a little bit more modern.
Colours
The name of the game with colours is neutral backdrops with a pop of red or blue to keep things from getting boring.
We’re being asked for white or grey cabinets a lot, with the accent colour on the island. The great thing about white and grey cabinets is that they make it easy to update the look of your kitchen.
A note about islands: in a lot of kitchens, having an island that’s made of a different material from the rest of the cabinets can really create a unique look. As long as there’s one element that pulls them together, anything goes.
Countertops
Stone and engineered quartz countertops are in high demand. Again, we’re also seeing some contrast on kitchen islands with butcher-block or other wood countertops or even glass.
Lighting
More and more people want to make sure there is enough lighting in their kitchen so they can work effectively. LED is everywhere because it’s so energy efficient and you almost never need to change the bulbs. They’re great for task lighting but also make great accent lighting too, now that they’re available in warmer tones.
What Does YOUR Dream Kitchen Look Like?
There are a lot of ways to make a very up to date kitchen that works with your style. As kitchen designers, our job is to learn about your tastes and make the perfect kitchen for you. If you’re ready to get a kitchen that’s as functional as it is beautiful, get started by talking to one of our friendly designers.
