Bertha Heathcote
For more than 2 decades homeowners have loved appliances and fixtures in stainless. We’re seeing a wave of new finishes that rival stainless in their appeal. But first, there are two housing design trends that are setting the stage, Integrated kitchens in open floor plans, and Personalization House plans have increasingly opened up over the recent years, allowing the kitchen to be integrated into the other living spaces.
Modern cooks prefer to be part of the party, rather than be shut away behind the walls of a separated kitchen. Now we see many different choices in appliances, from colored refrigerators and stoves to a variety of metals and finishes.
Kitchens are now places to watch TV, entertain and read, as well as cook and bake. Today’s kitchens are styled and furnished with the rest of the living spaces of the house in mind. Please note that this article contains affiliate links, and you can read my full disclosure at the bottom of the page. As kitchens open up to more of the living spaces, they are more stylish, less utilitarian. Homeowners are personalizing kitchens with bold appliances, cozy seating, stone surfaces, and more decorative fixtures — from sculptural faucets to interesting or artistic pendant lights. As kitchens become more and more our casual living spaces, homeowners are making them more comfortable.
Comfortable upholstered chairs, cozy reading nooks, and even a small couch are right at home in today’s kitchen. The Houzz study reported that 3/4 of the respondents still planned to have stainless steel appliances.
Their popularity continues, even though more homeowners are opening up to other styles and finishes.
Most major manufacturers have been trying out many different metals over the last 5 years, trying to be the first to find that “next big thing”.
As brass and gold have made a comeback, as well as bronze and other metals, there is less reason to stick with just one finish. In high-end homes, look for designers to play with metals more than in the past.
Appliances that have a satin or matte finish, whether in steel or other metals, are appearing in showrooms. Matte is used to describe something that lacks shine, so it looks more dull and flat.
The appeal is two-fold, they are easier to keep clean, and they easily blend in with other finishes.
Black is an exciting newer color and finish that we’re seeing more often. A more elegant version of black, I think we’ll be seeing it more in appliances. Since the kitchen is more integrated into the rest of the home in modern floor plans, adding panels to the appliances that match the cabinets is becoming popular.
This uniform look creates a less fussy style, which blends into the living spaces well. Check out (The Flooring Girl) Debbie Gartner’s series of useful articles on the topic: Smeg is one of the manufacturers who have come out with a lot of colors, from pastels to bright shades to black and white.
Colored appliances in an open kitchen add design and style that help it match the rest of the house.
A matte slate finish is easy to keep clean and resists the dreaded fingerprints that make stainless steel difficult. Like stainless, slate matches any cabinet or countertop finish, and is style-neutral.
The brushed stainless handles add a pop of shine, complimenting other appliances. If you are getting ready to sell your home and are looking to buy new appliances to make your kitchen more appealing to buyers, purchase something that we’ve highlighted here. As with most things concerning the home, do your research and read all the pros and cons of each style and finish.
Then choose what you will love to see and work with and clean every day.
We had an open floor plan (you can see from the front door all the way to the back of the house where the kitchen is…they look beautiful.) Contact the Highland Group for a personalized CMA – Comparative Market Analysis.
