Kitchen Design Trends

Kitchen Design Trends for 2010 and Beyond

When we consult with homeowners and builders, one of the most common concerns they have is choosing the wrong style kitchen cabinets and kitchen accessories.  When dealing with this concern, we advise that personalizing to the homeowner lifestyle is the key to creating a kitchen or bath that will satisfy for many years.

Last year, kitchen and bath trends pointed away from "keeping up with the Joneses" and people continue to avoid the "cookie cutter" approach to remodeling their homes.

Here, according to the NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association), are the top design trends for 2010:

• Traditional is the new "Contemporary"- Traditional will continue as the most popular design for kitchens and contemporary is following closely.  Shaker continues to with its strong resurgency.  Whites and off-whites will be the most common kitchen colors this year, while brown, beige and bone hues will also be popular.  Traditional styles, as well as darker hues and warm tones like maple are among the most widely used in the kitchen.  Mark L. Karas, President of the NKBA, explains that at times when the economy slumps as it has, people like to decorate in ways that help them to reminisce about more comforting times.  Essentially, many homeowners make the connection between traditional looks and  more comfortable and familiar surroundings that help ease worrying about finances.  "Many times we look back and say 'When times were simpler'  We like to relate back to the good times.  So a lot of people, depending on your age bracket, want to go back to what they grew up with."¹  Another reason people are attracted to traditional is it's got a timeless, everlasting appeal.
• Cherry is tops - Cherry will remain as the most popular wood species for kitchen cabinetry, followed closely by maple.  Alder will also continue its increase in popularity.  As for the finishes on those cabinets, medium natural, dark natural, glazed and white painted will all be common.  Other colors of painted cabinetry and light natural finishes are in decline, however, as are distressed finishes.
• Floors - Ceramic and porcelain tiles, as well as natural stone will continue as a popular kitchen flooring, however hardwood flooring will dominate the kitchen flooring landscape.  Granite will continue its popularity, however quartz will nearly catch up.  Backsplashes will be highlighted with ceramic, porcelain tile and glass as primary choices.
• Refrigeration - French door and bottom freezer are the two most popular styles of refrigeration.  Side by sides are still a popular option.  There is however, a growing trend towards undercounter refrigerators and refrigerated drawers being used in the latest kitchen designs.  Even more surprising may be that undercounter wine refrigerators have been specified recently by nearly half of surveyed kitchen designers.

At The Cabinet Guy, we find that our customers are no different than most of those whose views are reflected in the trend surveys above.  We are still seeing customers who are attracted to styles other than those mentioned.  

At QuikDrawers, our online sales outlet, the Shaker door style will continue to be a strong seller in the future.  We talk with people every day who are involved in remodeling their kitchens or replacing kitchen cabinets or cabinet doors and need some advice on selections.  You can Contact The Cabinet Guy and QuikDrawers.com, toll free at  1-866-937-7429 to discuss your needs for:

• New custom cabinet doors
• Replacement cabinet doors
• Replacement dovetail drawers
• Custom dovetail drawers
• Cabinet door hardware
• Drawer slides
• Decorative hardware by Jeffrey Alexander
• Kitchen Islands by Lyn Designs

¹Hicks, Jennifer. "Survey: Flexibility Is Key For Clients". Woodshop News. March, 2010, pgs 10 & 12.