That attitude seems to be softening, with the
remodeling industry overall seeing double the growth in 2012 that it did
just two years ago, according to research from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. “Work is starting to ramp back up again,” says Miller, “and the biggest reason is pent-up demand.”
If you’re one of those weighing a fresh look for your kitchen, consider incorporating some of the latest trends.
1. CLEANER, MORE MODERN LINES
Perhaps the biggest change to hit the
Northeast in recent years is the simpler, sleeker look coming over from
Europe, though, according to Jeff Swanson of Renovation Planning
in the South End, “it will always be New England-style contemporary,
where it’s not harsh and cold.” Designers term this look
“transitional” — that is, modern but with a classic take.
Among the ways the aesthetic translates is in
fewer wall cabinets — usually replaced by open shelving — and less
ornamentation, including on cabinet doors, which are now often a simple
slab. Proportions are tending toward the masculine, says Amanda LaRose,
designer at Divine Kitchens
in Wellesley, becoming “squarer, thicker, chunkier, and more
architectural.” To offset the bolder scale, she adds, finishes such as
painted cabinets and marble countertops are “staying more feminine.”
2. UPDATED LAYOUTS
Open-concept kitchens have been popular for
some time, but the older homes that predominate in the Boston area often
require an addition to create them. Many homeowners are doing away with
that extra expense by eliminating the formal dining room. “People say,
‘We just don’t entertain that way,’ ” explains LaRose. “A lot of people
knock down the wall to make a larger, grander eat-in-kitchen that they
can enjoy every day, as opposed to having a china closet that gets
dusted more than actually used.”
Additionally, the work triangle — with the
stove, refrigerator, and sink forming its three points — is no longer
the focus of kitchen design. Instead, restaurant-inspired workstations
are being set up. There may be a prep area for vegetables near the main
sink, a baking station with a pullout cutting board or lift-up mixer in
the base cabinets, a sandwich-prep area near the refrigerator, and a bar
area with second sink and mini-fridge in the island. “People are so
into organization,” says Kathy Marshall of K. Marshall Design in Wenham. “I think because life is so crazy.”
3. DOCKING STATIONS
Beginning in the 1990s, with the rise of home
computers, contractors started adding office areas to kitchens in
new-construction homes, and the trend soon moved to kitchen renovations.
But those office spaces are falling out of favor, because in most homes
they quickly became what LaRose calls “the abyss,” where bills,
receipts, recipes, kids’ school permission slips, and the like got
tossed into a pile to be ignored. “Office space is not disappearing”
from the kitchen, LaRose explains, “but morphing. It’s becoming a
message center and docking station. It probably does not have a sit-down
desk area like it did, and once you take away the need for sitting, you
can now use that space for storage.”
Charging cords and outlets for hand-held
devices that live in a countertop cubbyhole can be hidden with a
slide-up door, and upper areas containing pockets for kids’ stuff,
personalized mail slots, key hooks, and electronics storage can be
masked by doors that close when guests arrive.
4. EXPANDED HARDWARE OPTIONS
For years, the only adornments on well-dressed
cabinets were brushed-nickel rod handles. Today that’s changing, with
many more materials and styles available. Old-fashioned scallop pulls
are becoming popular again; other options include flush hardware that
mounts along the top edge of base cabinets. For metals, LaRose says,
“it’s become designer’s choice. I don’t think there’s a wicked hot metal
right now. It’s really based on the aesthetic of the rest of the space.
But a lot of beautiful warmer metals have come back into favor — warmer
brasses and burnished, patinaed golds that are just, like, yum. A few
years ago you never would have touched anything warm.”Continued...
Thinking about renovating this important room? Designers share the latest news in cabinets, appliances, and more. hi2
