Thinking of remodeling your kitchen this year?
Meet the leading trends in kitchens today.
Story by Ann Butenas | Photos courtesy of CKF
From backsplashes that make a statement to luxurious cabinetry, this round up of kitchen trends will help you identify the key look for kitchens in the coming year. If you need inspiration for a kitchen remodel in the new year, you have come to the right place. With myriad design choices from which to choose, it can seem overwhelming at first. You have to take into consideration not only the layout, but also colors, styles, and designs when it comes to all facets of the space.
We asked Mara Proctor, design expert with CKF to share her knowledge and insight on the kitchen trends that will be leading the way in 2022. Proctor explains how to incorporate the look you want. We hope this inspires you to make the style choices that work best for you and your kitchen.
KCH&S: We’ve been seeing a range of cabinetry colors lately. It seems people are going beyond the traditional white and brown. Is this what you see as trending?
Proctor: Navy has been popular but it has been trending out lately. Instead, we are seeing shades of green replacing the navy. White continues to remain popular. We are also seeing a lot more natural wood. Some homeowners are also leaning towards black and black and white along with black or natural wood accent range hoods.
KCH&S: How have storage options changed?
Proctor: We are seeing a continuing trend towards open shelving/ floating shelves, but with a move towards thinner shelves with decorative accent brackets or corbels. Cabinets are being styled with organizational inserts to maximize small spaces, along with cabinets extending clear to the ceiling for added storage space.
KCH&S: What is the latest trend in countertops?
Proctor: We’re seeing a move towards simple and clean colors with an accent on top, usually with an island or wet bar area. Waterfall countertops on islands are also trending. For backsplashes, owners are choosing to extend the countertop and create a full height seamless backsplash from it. As for the type of material used in countertops, we are seeing a lot of man-made quartz and an uptick in specialty natural stone like quartzite, which has some pretty layering. Many homeowners are choosing man-made quartz countertops more than anything else.
KCH&S: What is popular now in terms of accent hardware and fixtures?
Proctor: There is a shift towards more linear, cleaner lines and a movement away from the oil-rubbed bronze look. Homeowners are now opting for more black and gold and even chrome in some cases, but the latter is usually used in bathrooms. Black kitchen faucets are popular, as is black hardware. No matter what color the cabinetry is, black tends to be a prominent seller now.
KCH&S: Any tips or suggestions on integrating these new trends into kitchen remodeling projects? We know some people may be shy about adding bold colors, so perhaps pops of color, either through accessories or even artwork, might be the answer.
Proctor: The easy changes to any kitchen remodel include the hardware and the lighting. You can change out these elements easily, but when choosing the hard surfaces, I recommend staying with a classic and timeless style. You can replace the accessories as you want and still keep your kitchen up-to-date, clean and enduring.
