By Barbara J. McHatton
Want to "wow" potential buyers with the latest kitchen trends? Ideas on how to do just that were the subject of a seminar–"Outstanding Kitchens! Trends, Tricks and Tips to Drop-Dead Gorgeous Kitchens"–held Wednesday, January 11, at the 2006 International Builders' Show.
I caught up with two of the speakers–Mary Jo Peterson, CKD, CBD, of Mary Jo Peterson Inc., Brookfield, Conn., and Connie Edwards, CKD, CBD, director of design, Timberlake Cabinet Company, Winchester, Va., to get some insight into their seminar.
"Builders must realize that they have to focus on the kitchens," says Connie. "They're still the hottest rooms out there."
One of the design trends she sees is open plans, even in smaller homes. And because the kitchens are going to be open, they must be beautiful, she says. "Builders are only beginning to move toward more contemporary styles." A significant style trend is an organic contemporary look–more wood, stone and other natural materials make the designs warmer and more comfortable to buyers.
Another new trend is that of an "evolved" look that combines different cabinet styles and countertop colors to add visual interest. For example, Connie says, you may see honey-toned cabinets with a white island for a more intriguing design.
Connie also cites buyers' continued love affair with kitchen islands. "Kitchens are more open to other rooms in the house, thus sacrificing wall and counter space," she says. "This makes islands more popular; they compensate for the lost storage and work space."
Additionally, Connie says she hears many requests for extra prep kitchens and expanded butler's pantries–sometimes combined with the laundry or mud room–that are hidden out of sight. These rooms may also incorporate a microwave, extra appliances and sinks, and, in some applications, extra cabinetry.
Storage, storage, and more storage
Storage features, as always, have a big place in buyer's minds. "Cabinet manufacturers are working to differentiate themselves through the use of more sophisticated accessories that improve function and storage within cabinets," claims Mary Jo. Additionally, a reduced number of wall cabinets changes traditional storage, she says. "For example, we have drawer storage accessories to hold dishes or glassware."
Mary Jo also stresses the importance of proper clearances between work and passage aisles. "Because buyers want so many extras in their kitchens, users can often crowd the space," she claims. "The NKBA recommends a 42-inch work clearance for a work aisle in a one-cook kitchen and a 48-inch clearance for more than one cook." Builders, she says, should plan on the likelihood of multiple cooks in this space, so she encourages a 48-inch clearance whenever possible.
Other topics discussed were new trends in appliances, countertops, flooring and sinks, additional cabinet style trends, green design, lighting and color trends.
But above all, a kitchen must function well, declares Connie. Using the NKBA Planning Guidelines (www.nkba.org), builders should plan kitchens based on space considerations, work zones or triangles, storage needs and kitchen environment (safety, lighting and electrical).
"You can always make a functional kitchen beautiful, but you cannot always make a beautiful kitchen functional," she says. This seminar, however, was designed to demonstrate the best of both.
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