Upstate NY Custom Home Building Blog

Because it’s the first month of the year, there tends to be a lot of talk about what new kitchen concepts we can expect to see in 2015. While we think good design supersedes the latest trends and fads, it’s still worthwhile keeping an idea on what’s happening in the world of home design—particularly when it comes to what’s cooking in the kitchen. 

We also think that the bigger questions aren’t about what’s new or what’s trendy—but what will make your kitchen (and the rest of your home) more comfortable and enjoyable. 

Here are a few design trends that seem to follow that kind of thinking. So if you’re considering remodeling the kitchen in your Rochester-area home, you might want to think about these ideas. 

• Real Feel Wood: Incorporating wood into kitchen design is nothing new, but designers and homeowners seem to be moving away from highly polished and treated woods a bit in favor of woods have a more natural look and feel. That same trend appears to be the case with stone used in the kitchen. What’s becoming increasing popular is the use of natural stone (such as marble and granite) and  “engineered” stone that has more of the character of raw stone found in nature. 

• Open Shelving: Open shelves aren’t exactly a brand new trend—but they seem to be gaining popularity. And while there’s no question that they have a visual impact (giving kitchens an open, spacious look), there’s definitely a practical side to the design as well. It’s easy to get at items that are stored—and to put them away. Beyond that, using open shelving lends a familiar and casual “lived-in” look to the kitchen. And if you don’t want to go “all in” with the open look, you can combine open shelves with closed cabinets for those things you prefer to keep hidden. 

• Mixing of Styles: For a long time the unwritten code was that one shouldn’t mix different style in a single room.  That meant that if you had a tradition kitchen, the style would be traditional throughout the whole room. It’s become more acceptable (and even “fashionable” to combine different styles. It’s becoming quite common to see traditional and modern elements together. It’s not necessarily an “anything goes” approach but designers are mixing elements to create warm, welcoming spaces instead of sleek, ultra-modern looks. Rather than focusing on looks that are stunning, the emphasis is on creating environments where people want to congregate.

• Ceilings as Design Elements: Instead of ignoring the ceiling in the kitchen (or simply letting it be a boring shade of white) some designers are drawing viewers’ eyes up to make a statement. They’re using a variety of options to do this, including coffer ceilings, dramatic lighting, and embellished trims. They are turning the ceiling into a design element in its own right. 

• A Metallic Shift: Don’t expect stainless steel appliances to go away, but there does seem to be a shift in metal tones for accents (faucets, handles, etc,). Many designers are leaning toward warmer-toned metals such as oiled or brushed copper, gold, and bronze.

Those are just a few of the things we’ve been hearing about at the beginning of the New Year. Leave us a note in the comments section telling us about trends you’re seeing. And if you’re looking for additional kitchen design ideas, you may want to check out some of the recent kitchen remodels we’ve worked on.