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Kitchen Design Trends 2016

by | Jan 13, 2016 | Decorating, Home, Home Staging, Staging | 2 comments

If you’re thinking about updating your kitchen what trends are worthy of your time, money and effort…well, here is a list of kitchen designs trending this year and some do’s and don’ts to consider before adopting the trend.
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Kitchens are an important area of the home, it’s in constant use from morning to night and can make or break a deal if you’re selling your home. The kitchen is one of the most popular rooms to renovate because it yields a high return on investment. Any money you spend on a kitchen renovation is money you can expect to see back in higher resale values. So, while it may seem scary to redo your kitchen, usually you’re making a sound decision. The average cost for a kitchen renovation depends on many factors — including the size of the kitchen, the quality of the materials and the complexity of the job and here is a great resource from Homeadvisor.com to learn the true costs of kitchen renovations in your area. What exactly should you consider changing in your kitchen? Grab a cup of coffee (or tea) and let’s design your new kitchen.
Kitchen Trends #10: The Cabinets
Starting with the cabinets, a hot trend right now is mixing and matching colors for a more customized look. Try contrasting colors like we used in our kitchen white on top and a gray-brown wood looking grain below. This trend really highlights each section of the room and makes the cabinets look more like unique furniture pieces than a standard kitchen. 
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You can choose to highlight your island with a contrasting color instead of your lower cabinets. Kitchen islands are a feature home buyers love to see in this room, so why not make it stand out with a different color. A popular cabinet style that’s trending is a shaker-style cabinet (shown above in white upper cabinet.) This style is sleek, clean with a touch of detail. Upper cabinets are also being swapped out for open shelving, but I wouldn’t recommend this trend if you’re a clutter bug or hate cleaning. The combination of dust and cooking oil midst in this room can become overwhelming when it’s covered everything on display. Open shelving can also look messy if not constantly maintained.
DSC_0701Kitchen Trends #9: Color Choices
A white kitchen is of course still the most popular color to choose in this room. However, gray colors and even soft hues, like green or blue are appearing in kitchens. We actually used a touch of green in our kitchen on the cabinets, this is our pantry and a built-in seat. On the opposite side of the kitchen we used the same cabinets to store a washer & dryer, plus the cabinets outlined the refrigerator. The green is also picked up in the hexagon tile backsplash. 
Apparently the 80’s black on black kitchen is making a comeback this year. This is where 80% of the kitchen is black and mixed materials and finished are used to create a dramatic look. I have to admit I like it, but not sure I’d be able to live with it! And, I certainly don’t recommend building a black on black kitchen in your home, if you plan on selling anytime soon.
Kitchen Trends #8: What’s In a Backsplash
A backsplash can complete the look of a kitchen and help make the entire design feel cohesive. Custom backsplashes in bold patterns and colors will be a new trend in 2016, again though this is a very taste specific trend so if you plan on selling use something more neutral. I feel like backsplashes are being used to add personality and bring in color and texture so popular materials being used is mirror, marble and of course tile. In the kitchen, play around with texture but not in the conventional way. Rather than mixing and matching textures to create a look, use same texture material but in different patterns to may it look customized. Here is an example of this found in a recent Forbes article.
Kitchen Trends #7: Show Off Those Counters
Continuing to trend are quartz countertops they’re resistant to heat, spills and scratches, making them a smart choice for families or busy cooks. Quartz countertops are replacing granite and marble as a more organic alternative, they’re also some of the most eye-catching and come in a wide variety of colors, however stick to the neutrals if you want your kitchen to be timeless. Here is the quartz countertop we chose for our home.
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Kitchen Trends #6: Don’t Forget the Sink
 A splash of color is taking place of the traditional white farmhouse or stainless steel sinks, we’ve recently found in kitchens. You can also opt for textured farmhouse exteriors to add detail, but again if you’re planning on selling anytime you may want to avoid bold colors. One trend at the sink, you’ll want to adopt right away is an automated hands-free faucet, it’s a lifesaver for busy cooks and prevents from spreading germs.
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Kitchen Trends #5: Colorful Appliances
One more colorful trend to mention is on the oven. Appliances, especially ovens are shedding their stainless steel skins for more vibrant colors, especially when it comes to highlighting commercial range stoves. My thought on this,  unless you live in a trendy loft or use this new trend tasteful avoid installing these when selling. 
Kitchen Trends #4: Need a Hood
Above the stove ditch the microwave and go for an awesome wood or metal range hood. This makes the cooking area look more dramatic and creates an instant focal point in the room.

(Don’t feel like reading? Watch the video instead here with Realtor Don Reedy.)
Kitchen Trends #3: Over the Top Lighting
Oversized lighting up above is taking center stage, usually above the island, dining table or a countertop. Large round shaded pendants and artisan lighting are making a bold statement and serve as the focal point of the room. The best part you don’t have to have a large home to take part in this trend.
Kitchen Trends #2: Shiny Details
Remember knobs, pulls and other handles are major details and statement pieces in this room. Think of it as jewelry for your cabinets and drawers. Stainless steel, while still popular is seeing some competition with gold brass and other colored metals including copper and even rose gold. Consider using all the same materials throughout this room (lighting, knobs, pulls, doorknobs, light switches, etc.) to create one cohesive look.
Kitchen Trends #1: Creating One Cohesive Look
The most important trend in a kitchen is…drum roll please…it’s becoming apart of the main living space! So make sure you streamline your kitchen designs to match the adjacent rooms this way it doesn’t seem out of place or isn’t competing with other focal points in the open layout. By embracing the kitchen in your daily routine and gathering there often the kitchen truly is becoming the heart of the home.
 
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Let me know in the comments below what trends you’ll be considering in your kitchen updates. I’d love to hear from you! And of course, if you have any home staging or decorating questions, all you have to do is ask! Feel free to contact me here.
Happy Updating,
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