Kitchen Design Trends for 2016

Curious to know what kitchen design trends will dominate in 2016?  Below we list some design trends you will want to incorporate into your home this year.
  
OPEN CONCEPT:  
Kitchens that open up to living and dining spaces satisfy the needs of the modern family

Photo Credit: Kimberly Kerl, Kustom Home Design

MULTI-COLORED CABINETS           &         OPEN SHELVING:

Color is making a comeback in combination with neutral colors

Photo Credit: Kimberly Kerl, Kustom Home Design

RUSTIC DESIGN ELEMENTS:
Rustic elements such as stone, timber and metal are being mixed with more refined materials to create a dynamic design balance

Photo Credit: Kimberly Kerl, Kustom Home Design

LIVE EDGE COUNTERS:
Counters with a "live edge" have irregular, lightly finished edges that accentuate the natural appearance of the material.  In this case the natural curvature of the tree is easily visible in the solid wood plank counter. 

Photo Credit: Kimberly Kerl, Kustom Home Design

TOUCHLESS FAUCETS:
Advances in technology and a desire for sanitary food prep conditions has fueled a boom in "touchless" fixtures for the home

Photo Credit: Kimberly Kerl, Kustom Home Design

COMMERCIAL GRADE APPLIANCES:
Built-in fryers, double ovens, 6-8 burner gas cooktops and glass front refrigerators are just a few of the very popular commercial grade appliances being requested by food savvy homeowners

Photo Credit: Kimberly Kerl, Kustom Home Design

UPPER GLASS DOORS:

Cabinets are extending to the underside of ceilings creating more storage and the opportunity for additional illumination through the use of upper glass cabinets

Photo Credit: Kimberly Kerl, Kustom Home Design

CLEVER STORAGE:

Pull-out columns and specialized storage inserts are a common request in kitchens that will continue into the new year

Photo Credit: Kimberly Kerl, Kustom Home Design

Kitchen renovations are still one of our most requested project types and every kitchen we design reflects the unique personality of their homeowner.  We are grateful to have clients who trust us to create exciting new trends and offer creative design solutions in unique and varied ways.

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Design your home����..define your taste

Glass & its significance

Aspects that define your home interiors define your taste as well. So does the glass designs as your interiors. Glass provides versatility, visibility & light transmission. Security, durability and energy conservation is also assured with the use of glass.

Glass denotes beauty and functionality & is scratch resistant as well. Glass also resists heat and ensures safety. Easy maintenance & cost effectiveness is also gained through glass.

Glass looks brilliant as a shower screen or/and partition. Decorative mirrors & glass tiles are also attractive when designed in the right manner. Glass is vibrant as a door partition or decorative panel in commercial set ups especially (pictures)

Frosted glass, tinted glass, textured glass, stained glass, figured glass & opaque glass are used for the appealing and soothing designing of your interiors. With the right choice of glass in the interiors right mood is set and emphasized

Painting sets your mood

Pigments in the paint give color and opacity; color to the mood is set through it. The binder in the paint keeps the protection on; binding the mood of the resident. Solvent and additives are used for thinning the paint & varnish and for quick dry or flow control.

The various types of paints used for the interiors are oil paints, enamel paints, distemper, Duco paints & textured paints. Oil paint in the modern interior designing are applied as an oil finishing & protection of woods and exposed metals. Thus provides a finishing to your mood

Enamel paint on the other hand is a hard paint that gives a glossy finish to your interior furniture & your moods. Distemper is the base to your walls used for holding different colours. It holds the color on the walls and your mood too

Exemplify your taste with your choice of upholstery

Upholstery includes providing comfort with appropriate furniture. Perfect couch, seats, and right materials are used assuring luxury and comfort. The varied upholstery includes leather, couches, sofas, dhurrie, carpet and curtains.

The choice of couch or sofas or modern bin bags defines one�s taste and art of living. Curtains and carpets are symbolic to your sense of art and taste of lifestyle effectively.  As per the personality the interiors are designed with right upholsteries. Right design and perfect choice enhances your mood and assures peaceful living with personalized interiors.

Outline your most private space

Your bathroom denotes your most private space in your entire residence. Designing it according to your choice and comfort is the best part of our art in interior designing. The design of your bathroom is established with the best accessories and fittings defining your style.

A bathtub is the most comfortable place you indulge into while bathing. Most of the modern bathtubs are of fiberglass, acrylic and others. If you look for something else then alternative options like enamel over steel or cast iron and others are also available to satisfy your traditional taste

Jacuzzi is a company that produces bathtubs and spas with whirlpool but it has been popularized and trademarked to any bath with water jets. 

Get Creative - Cabinetry Inspirations from KBIS 2015

The 2015 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas was full of fantastic cabinetry inspirations.  The show was brimming with eclectic design styles, common materials used in uncommon ways, and new products that make your cabinetry come alive.  Since I couldn't take you along as I visited each booth, I've taken the time to showcase some of the most creative design ideas and products that I found.

FUN, FLOATING & FUNKY

Floating elements are very popular and very cool.  Whether it is a floating shelf, floating drawer or floating cabinet; these designs are fun and give the illusion that the elements are unsupported, as if by magic.  Who couldn't use a little magic?

Clean lines, soft hues & a floating drawer ooze a spa-like feel

Put a slant on your designs with irregular forms & asymmetrical geometry

Retro colors used in creative patterns lend a funky vibe

Use contrasting materials & hidden lights for a clean, modern feel

Use color & lighting to brighten up a space

Floating cabinetry appears to defy gravity itself

 

 

RUSTIC, REFINED & ORGANIZED

Rustic materials that evoke nostalgia and replicate or pay homage to mother nature provide designs with a feeling of comfort and warmth.  Industrial influences in lighting or hardware give a masculine, casual feel to a space. On the other hand, more refined styles can be used on their own or in combination with these rustic elements.  Either way a good design has to be functional and when it comes to cabinetry, organization is the name of the game.

Rich stain & hammered copper top with integral sink

Wavy seeded glass with weathered shelves

Heringbone floor, farm sink & industrial pendant lights

Dark stain coupled with painted back & wire and galvanized accessories

Sleek stained cabinet with rustic knobs

Mocha stain, industrial lights & plank tile wall

Gray paint, antique glass & plate shelf

Pull-out dining table

Metal hood with geometric tile backsplash

Belt buckle bracket

Crafting & wrapping station

Lighting in back of door rather than from above

Piano top door style (opened)

Piano top door style (closed)

Appliance Innovations You Should Know About

The 2015 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas was packed with appliance manufacturers featuring their latest and greatest products.  I browsed them all and compiled a list of the most impressive new appliance features that you should pay attention to.


SIDE OPEN OVEN:  Bosch's 30 inch Benchmark Series Wall Ovens are available with side opening doors.  The ovens come in either right or left swing doors.  This is an option you should expect to see more of and one you may want to consider for your next wall oven.

The side opening door allows for easier transfer of heavy items in and out of the oven and when mounted at the appropriate height, it is accessible for those in wheelchairs.

 



SPEED MICROWAVE OVEN:  Everyone likes to save time, energy and space.  A speed microwave helps you do just that.  Instead of eating up valuable real estate in your kitchen with a built-in microwave and second convection oven, you can use a combination microwave/convection oven like the one made by Bosch.  

The ovens come in either 27 inch or 30 inch widths and the Bosch Benchmark series ovens are designed to align with one another in both vertical and horizontal configurations.  The sleek design also allows for a flush installation so the face of the appliance aligns with the face of your cabinets.

 




FRONT CONTROL 30 INCH GAS RANGES:  This may not sound exciting to many of you, but finding a 30" gas range with front mount controls has been a difficult proposition that is finally getting a little easier.  Thermador and Frigidiaire both offer 30" gas ranges with front controls.  From a design perspective, the front controls allow you to have a clean look with an uninterrupted backsplash; however, that's not the only advantage.  Front mount controls also prevent you from reaching over hot elements or pans to reach the controls.

 

  

CUSTOM PANELED REFRIGERATOR/ FREEZER COLUMNS:  More and more homeowners are realizing the advantages of having full column freezers and refrigerators as opposed to a combination refrigerator/freezer.  As these products gain in popularity so do the design options.  Appliances designed to accept custom panels have swung the design door wide open.  Refrigeration design options are limitless with the new custom panel configurations offered by Thermador's Freedom Collection.  The design below was featured at KBIS 2015 and includes custom made wood panels on the wine columns and custom made copper panels on the refrigerator and freezer columns.

 

The newly engineering hinges on the Thermador Freedom Collection refrigeration units allow them to support tremendous weight and still achieve a 115 degree swing.  This series of refrigeration columns have custom designed quartzite panels and handles.

Appliance innovations abound each and every year with a dizzying array of options, accessories and price points.  When you're ready to upgrade your appliances or design your dream kitchen space, seek the advice of a professional who can help lead the way.

 

Design & Construction Week 2015 - The Fun Stuff

You know the saying, "All work and no play, makes Johnny a dull boy"; well a dull designer isn't worth much.  So when the opportunity arises to visit Las Vegas "for work", you have to throw in a little fun.  Design & Construction Week is slammed full of new and exciting products, courses in every subject imaginable, networking opportunities galore, and just to round things out a bit, there is some fun to be found.

You may not agree, but my fun began with the flight.  Once you get through all the obstacles and actually take flight, you're treated to views like none other.  So I set out from Greenville, SC and headed for Sin City.

Along the way, I received great news from Houzz.com congratulating me on winning two awards!  I won the Best of Houzz 2015 award for Design and the Best of Houzz 2015 award for Satisfaction.  This is the third consecutive year I have won the Best of Houzz awards and it is a great feeling each and every year!

 

 Of course, who is there to greet you at the Las Vegas airport?  The slot machines...

...and neon signs!

 Surveyed the view and found fun things just waiting right outside my window

At the convention, I took advantage of selfie opportunities

Enjoyed refreshing beverages and free food

Was interviewed by Houzz TV

Met some celebrities

Nicole Curtis from Rehab Addict

Ty Pennington

Enjoyed some comedic relief

Adam Carolla & Ray Oldhafer's construction podcast "Ace on the House"

Marveled at the number of bald men involved with design and construction 

 (because sometimes you have to find fun in the mundane)

Then I boarded a plane and headed home, perhaps a little less dull than when I started!

So long Las Vegas, until next year...

The real purpose of my trip was to discover new and exciting products and materials for my clients, to find inspiration, and to teach a course on Universal Design.  My upcoming posts will highlight everything I learned, show pictures and videos of the best new products for your home, and give you a glimpse into my Universal Design course and highlights of some products to help us all live longer and more comfortably in our own homes.