Happy Holiday’s to you and yours! I’m so excited to see what (positive) changes are headed our way in 2021 with regard to new trends in home design! Here are a few thoughts:
The kitchen is a major focal point of a home—after all, it’s where meals are made to nourish your family, and where guests (when you can host them safely again) tend to gather, no matter how carefully you’ve arranged your living room.
Because of that, the kitchen is a key selling point, which may intimidate some people from thinking outside the box when it comes to kitchen design.
But here’s something to consider: Kitchen design experts say 2021 is not the year to hold back. You may appreciate your kitchen’s look now and think, “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.” But the New Year represents hope and new beginnings unlike any other in recent memory. So when it comes to updating the heart of your home, allow yourself to get creative and break some rules.
Rule No. 1 to break: You must have bulky upper cabinets:
Consider getting rid of upper cabinets.
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What’s a kitchen without necessary storage space for all your glasses, mugs, and plates to live? Sure, you need a place to put all of your dinnerware, but there is such a thing as too much cabinetry. And eliminating cabinetry can actually significantly improve the look of your kitchen.
The formulaic approach to kitchen storage includes upper-wall cabinets, but if you eliminate the upper cabinets altogether; it makes the space feel larger.
Getting rid of upper cabinets frees up wall space for something visually stunning like art or a full-slab backsplash that extends to the ceiling, It instantly elevates the aesthetic.
But where will all your salad bowls and small appliances live?
Maximize storage in an island or base cabinets, where everything is easier to reach.
Rule No. 2 to break: The kitchen island must be stationary:
You might think islands need to be fixed to the floor with cabinets below, that design doesn’t always work in smaller kitchens.
If you look beyond traditional design to create spaces that are more flexible, having a mobile kitchen island with an open base allows the piece to be an active element that, when equipped with lockable casters, can move to meet your needs rather than simply serving as a storage component too!
A floating island can serve as a homework station by day and food prep station at mealtime—the perfect multitasking piece for quarantine.
To achieve this, bring in a bar-height table, clad with ultra-durable surfacing like Silestone or Dekton.
Rule No. 3 to break: Keep the kitchen all white:
When redoing a kitchen, going dark with countertops (made of a high-gloss material like quartz or Dekton), cabinetry, or appliances brings a more luxurious look.
(Another potential favorite for 2021 is midnight blue or dark green.)
Rule No. 4 to break: Match all your kitchen finishes:
Faucets, lighting fixtures, cabinet hardware, and appliances in the kitchen should all match, right? Not necessarily… Mixing these finishes is becoming very popular!
Sticking to one finish may seem like the safe and easy route, but mixing metals can completely elevate a kitchen’s appearance.
A popular combination is a kitchen faucet in matte black juxtaposed with a brass pot filler or brass cabinet hardware. The key to breaking this rule is installing a design element that brings the two metals together, such as a light fixture that incorporates both.
Rule No. 5 to break: Install lights just for function:
Most people use lighting to illuminate their kitchen so they can see what they’re cooking, but accent lighting can also be used in this space to give it more visual interest. Try using vanity and picture lights above kitchen sinks and even above open shelving. It can really look fabulous in unexpected applications. A few popular sconces are: the Watson sconce ($585, Arteriors) and Yasmin sconce ($675, Arteriors).
Using this idea, it’s more creative than a flush or can light, and can give a very sophisticated feel. There’s also this less expensive option from Wayfair.
Happy Holiday’s once again and let’s all ring in the New Year with a sense of resounding peace and “togetherness.” Reach out to me anytime, I love helping you, your family, coworkers and friends! – Christy Crouse
