Kitchen Chic
The Latest Trends in Kitchen Design

Are you planning a kitchen remodel? If so, you’re not alone. According to the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), spending for kitchen construction and remodeling in 2022 is forecast to increase by 20.5 percent year over year, to $954 billion. That includes expenditures for both the construction of kitchens in new homes as well as remodeling existing ones.

Much of the increase in kitchen remodeling is being driven by record-breaking home price appreciation and an increase in home equity, which many homeowners are tapping to remodel their homes.

A kitchen remodel can be a huge undertaking, lasting months in many cases - and that doesn’t consider delays due to supply-chain disruptions caused by the pandemic. So, it’s important to get it right and to incorporate the latest design trends to keep your kitchen fresh and relevant for as long as possible.

Light and Bright

“My clients want kitchens that are light and bright and very inviting because it’s the center of activity in the home,” says Eloise Kubli, an interior designer and president of Collective Construction & Design in Plantation. “People are eating at home a lot more, and my clients are cooking a lot more. That’s a positive trend that’s happened because of COVID.”

The NKBA recently released a research report on 2022 design trends and reported the following as among the latest trends in kitchen design:

Nature-inspired themes. Organic and natural styles are becoming prominent, along with lighter, brighter kitchens. Indoor-outdoor spaces are being incorporated as well, with outdoor living spaces located adjacent to the kitchen.

Colors. Kitchen design is moving away from white and gray as primary colors. Whites remain as a neutral backdrop, but with accents of color and light wood grains. The top colors in kitchens are green, blue, golds and other metallics. For fixtures, matte and brushed finishes in black, stainless, nickel and pewter are becoming more popular than shiny ones.

Multifunctional spaces. Kitchens are more than just places to dine these days, so large islands that can also function as places to do homework or work from home are in demand. Locally, designers are seeing additional trends.

Quartzite and Waterfalls

“l am ripping out granite constantly,” Kubli says. “We’re doing quartzite or Cambria quartz, which is a very large-format stone, very durable and anti-microbial, which people really love. Waterfalls on the edges of the cabinetry or islands are definitely a big factor in design.”

Kubli says she’s also incorporating long sinks with two faucets in her kitchens as well. These allow two people to work together side-by-side. And she’s increasingly including professional-grade appliances from Wolf, Sub-Zero and Miele. <<<