Kitchens That Sell
by Jackie Paulsen
Unique style is the new standard in design when it comes to today's popular kitchens. As the kitchen evolves into the social heart of the home, buyers continue to focus more time and effort on overall kitchen customization, creating an environment that matches both aesthetic and functional needs. With nearly 43 percent of homeowners eating in more often than they did a year ago, it's no surprise that dream kitchen wish lists are expanding beyond granite countertops and stainless steel appliances.
New wishes include custom cabinetry, striking yet efficient faucets and sinks, and accents such as decorative hardware and beautiful finishes. With manufacturers racing to keep up with the demand for all things unique and coordinated, the options available to help builders and designers achieve an original kitchen are endless.
Cabinets and Everything in Between
Whether designed to hold items such as cookbooks, pots, pans or even large appliances, today's kitchen cabinets, drawers and doors are sized to accommodate the needs of each homeowner. Designers are marrying style with function by experimenting with cabinet scale, free-standing and functional work stations, and even decorative accents such as apothecary drawers. To personalize cabinets even more, the shape, size and scale of the knob or pull should be as distinctive as the surface itself while remaining functional.
Decorative hardware manufacturers have increased available sizes to provide a wide range of purposeful, yet stylish solutions. These include standard and oversized knobs, pulls in sizes from 3 inches to 160mm and even appliance hardware from 8 inches to 18 inches. In addition to pulls that are ergonomically designed to fit cabinets of all sizes, decorative knobs also range in style from small accent knobs to detailed latches, cup pulls and knobs in coordinating shapes to add dimension.
Reinventing the Bronze Age
Finishes also play a key role in completing an original kitchen vision. Buyers' inspirations can vary from matching hardware to their fixtures and appliances or mixing it up with an eclectic hardware style. While satin nickel remains a best-selling finish, warmer and weathered finishes are on the rise.
Oil rubbed bronze, with its rich brown hue and golden undertones, is quickly being integrated into kitchen plumbing fixtures, cabinets, appliances, lighting designs and color palettes. At the 2009 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, new versions of bronze were prevalent. These gorgeous finishes ranged from golden and deep bronze hues to dark, nearly black tones.
Permission to Mix and Match
There are some guidelines to adhere to when creating a strong kitchen statement, but designers and buyers are enjoying newfound freedoms in creating kitchens. Whether it's a nod to traditional, contemporary, transitional or eclectic design, contrasting materials and textures can be successfully integrated into any kitchen.
Transitional
This simple and sophisticated style is a prime example of combining elements to create a pleasing, functional aesthetic. Inspiration is drawn from the historical farmhouse style and incorporates utility hardware and muted cabinetry tones and colors to create an overall rustic feel. A proportioned medley of modern and folk elements mingle with glass and metal to achieve a look of transitional and modern living.
A multi-tonal pallet can be infused through cabinets and hardware finishes. Walnut and glazed cream colored cabinets create a clean look combined with a contrasting polished nickel finish. Period-accurate touches such as cabinet latches above the sink, cup pulls, oversized backplates and exposed screws on the hardware create a contemporary sense of elegance, while varied cabinet sizes complete the custom look.
Contemporary
A resurgence of interest in contemporary living has inspired designers to play with the contrast of dramatic details including light versus dark, bold patterns, elemental shapes and clean lines. This contemporary approach focuses on the beauty of a straight line, carrying it throughout the kitchen using a variety of elements. High-gloss black cabinets and a juxtaposed graphite finish of heavily brushed decorative hardware create a textured contrast, while the positioning of the hardware carries the eye along a sleek, minimal line.
New Traditionalism
An incoming movement in kitchen décor is a renewed interest in traditional design elements along with the practical luxuries of today's home. The result is new traditionalism, which blends tradition with updated design elements for a lavish expression. This modern approach to the classics is apparent through features such as brown-toned cabinets in multiple sizes, the use of mixed materials and the integration of a stainless steel sink and glass.
Ornamental hardware creates distinct accents and complements the architectural molding details on the cabinets. Smaller coordinating knobs in multiple shapes throughout the kitchen also enable creative expression while separating the kitchen into different spaces, adding dimension.
Eclectic
The underlying principle of eclectic design is that anything goes, as long as it goes together. Honey-colored cabinets highlighted with striking hardware achieve a handcrafted look by blending matte finishes with lightly distressed dimensions. Larger pulls on cabinets add variation and increase functionality while geometric shaped knobs provide clean, bold lines.
Jackie Paulsen is the Director of Marketing Communications for Amerock.
