At the end of 2010, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) surveyed 100 designers about what they considered the hottest kitchen trends in the marketplace for 2011. What did they report? Find out below the jump…
1. Traditional and Shaker Styles. The Shaker style gained momentum in 2010, overtaking contemporary as the second most popular style used by NKBA member designers. Traditional style still dominates, but has fallen to 76%. The shaker style may represent a middle ground between the sleek modern kitchen and the ornate excess of the faux-Tuscan and other versions of "traditional". Shaker-style cabinets often have flat panel doors, installed in an inset style, creating a smooth front on cabinets.
2. Maple Cabinets: Maple overtook cherry as the wood of choice for kitchen cabinetry in the last few months of 2010.
3. Dark Finishes. Dark natural finishes overtook "medium natural, glazed and white painted" finishes to become the most specified type of finish. Distressed finishes dropped significantly in popularity.
4. Kitchen Organization. Unchilled wine storage is gaining in popularity. Wine refrigerators, tall pantry cupboards, pull-out racks and lazy Susans are all on the decline. Appliance garages with roll-up doors are also on the out. It is unclear what storage people are using as alternatives, however.
5. Granite and Quartz. These two continue to be the most requested countertop materials, with marble and butcher block counter showing a significant increase in popularity.
6. Neutral Paint. With the exception of the neutral beiges and grey tones, every color, including white and off-white, remained either level or down from a year earlier.
7. Focus on Trash: Trash or recycling pullouts were huge during the last months of 2010, as were garbage disposals and trash compactors
8. Appliances: French door refrigerators, induction ovens and double wall ovens are hot. Countertop cook units are overtaking ranges.
9. LED Lighting. It is hot (no pun intended).
Are you seeing these predicted shifts? Do you think these predictions are harbingers of welcome change or a sign that kitchen design is about to take a turn for the worse? Or do you chose to ignore such forecasts, either because you don't trust them or because you just don't care about national trends?
For more detail on the report, see Musings From Marketing and the Examiner.
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So interesting to read. I like this kind of post that keeps me "updated" on styles.
so sick of granite...and stainless steel... fun drinking game: take a sip everytime someone says "granite countertops" on house hunters on hgtv. there are lots of other options people.
my forecast: in the next few years white appliances are gonna make a comeback.
we were always taught in college the granite is not good for a kitchen because of burn marks and it sucks in pathogens from food stuffs.
@ archinerd: we play that very game at our place! It also works with "open floor plan" and variations on "I love how the windows bring in the light!" (versus how the walls do, presumably!).
Agree with archinerd - am all granited out. It is a pain to take care of, everything that hits it breaks, and, it emits radon (?) Stainless steel is also a pain to take care of: scratches easily, pits, dents - ugh - looks good for a little while, then how do you fix it? You can't get it repainted like you can with regular appliances! I want a kitchen that is easy to prepare food in and clean up; light, bright, washable surfaces, not fancy, delicate, hard to take care of anything, including wood that I have to worry about scratching, denting, etc.
@ Staceysk- my favorite is when they say "open concept" - it's not conceptual. it is in fact, open.
@archinerd, i'm so there with you.
Actually if you read the article from Musings from Marketing it indicates "Quartz countertops, rather than natural stone, is re-gaining popularity because of its low maintenance and high durability in both the kitchen and the bathroom. " (you have to navigate your way back to section 1 of the article for trends 1-5 for this piece).
Honestly, I hate "trend" stuff. I like what I like and could really care less what's trendy. The only upside about going with trendy things is that they become more readily available and sometimes price decreases.
It can almost be frustrating when what you like becomes trendy. When you buy it or use it in your home there's a feeling that you're following the herd rather than expressing your own voice.
The lighting around the lower cabinets kickplates in the picture is... interesting. At my house that would simply highlight all the crumbs that collect there.
"it's not conceptual. it is in fact, open"
BWAHAHAHAHA
Ugh, I have a stainless steel cooktop and I would never get one again - all scratched up! We definitely bucked the neutral trend though, our kitchen is Sherwin Williams "Raucous Orange!!"
what these comments could really use is...more granite! ;)
OMGosh, I'm with archinerd!! Granite and Stainless steel are a trend of the 2000-2010, and in due time everyone will view it the same as we currently see pink toilets from the 50s and 60s.
So basically this is the list of don't-dos if you want your kitchen to stand the test of time?
I highly recommend soapstone countertops! I was so scared to get them because everyone said they were high maintenance, but they've been a dream. We used a stone sealant on them (which everyone said was a no no, but it's been completely fine) and we haven't had to oil them for years. Completely heat-resistant and if it gets nicked, you just sand and smooth it out. Plus, it can be more eco-friendly if you get it from a local quarry. It cost the same as granite and little less than quartz (at least in our area). Yay for soapstone!
And stainless steel-- looks great, but i agree that it's hard to clean. I wish I could afford restored vintage appliances, but I don't have a money tree. :)
Thanks for the post-- interesting!
In my world, white will ALWAYS be the kitchen color of choice, including white appliances. White appliances have been around forever. I've never been a trendsetter but I bought my first trash compactor 24 years ago. I'm surprised it hasn't been more popular in the past two decades as it's one kitchen appliance I consider necessary.
I'm over granite, especially "flecked" granite.
However, I still prefer stainless steel appliances above all other finishes. If I could afford it, I would looooooooooove to havve stainless steel countertops with integrated sink and six burner stainless steel gas stove.
I agree w/ bendable: "The lighting around the lower cabinets kickplates in the picture is... interesting." Makes me think of those cars w/ the glowing lights under them. Just silly, really.
@home body - exactly! How about some ideas for classic kitchens that won't look dated in 10 years time?
It's obvious that Stainless/black/granite will eventualy be dated, but in the mean time...what's the trend? It really is up to what you want in your home. Personally I love a white clean kitchen, and some people think it looks like a hospital room...
Love quartz and would never go back. These countertops are indistructible! Hot pots, cutting without a cutting board, spills that would normally stain are no problem for these counter tops - definately worth it!! Stainless on the other hand can be a pain, but it too has stood the test of time. White is nice, but not really a fashion statement.
I'll never consider stainless steel a "trend". Always had it, always will.
I love almost everything about this kitchen... I have white, flat cabinets that I hate. I love the tiled back splash, the appliances, and the cabinets are dreamy! White kitchens are so sterile looking. I hate it. Thanks for the post!
Two items on the list are surprising - the rise of countertop cooktops, and the departure of tall pantry cabs.
Tall pantry cabs are the holy grail of storage. I think the only reason we are seeing this trend is cost-cutting. The only thing I could foresee replacing them is large-drawer storage in lieu of base cabinets - also expensive.
The countertop cooking is genuinely intriguing. This paves the way for something I've been curious about - shallow-depth countertops, which would be more possible with a custom cooktop, rather than a bulky range.
While I did not pick the granite in my kitchen, I haven't had a single problem with it. It conceals crumbs, has never stained as far as I know (though I'm not sure I'd notice if it did because of its coloring), and has never gotten a knick or anything like that. It seems fairly indestructible.
And my stainless appliances have never been a problem. A little bit of olive oil makes them shiny.
White appliances...if they're not super retro I think they're awful.