Combine Trends and Tradition for the Best in Kitchen Design

If you turn on your television or pick up any home magazine, you’re bound to see beautiful kitchens on display. More than any time since the one room cabin, the kitchen has once again become the center of the home.

In New England, kitchens still trend toward a more elegant and traditional style, perhaps as a nod to the history of the area.

Kitchens in Northern Massachusetts tend to favor dark, rich woods like oak and cherry. Contemporary styles are less popular in more traditional homes, although trendy lofts and some condos lend themselves well to the sleeker, less decorative style of contemporary design.

If you are looking for a very simple way to update your kitchen, consider swapping out hardware on your cabinets. You would be amazed at the selection available at large home improvement stores, or if you’re really adventurous, do a search online.

Kitchen hardware can range from simple ceramic balls for less than a dollar a piece to custom forged iron that can cost hundreds of dollars per piece. Today’s most popular styles seem to be brushed or polished metal. A kitchen designer can help you sort through the array of hardware that looks best with your cabinets.

The “Work Triangle”

Traditional kitchen design typically focuses on what is referred to as the “work triangle.” The work triangle is the space between the refrigerator, food preparation area, and the cooking area. A kitchen designer can help determine how much space you need for each function, given the number of cooks in your kitchen, and other ways in which your kitchen is used.

The kitchen island remains popular, but a new trend toward stainless steel or wood chopping block as the island surface is growing. New island trends include the incorporation of a sink for use in food preparation and disposal, as well as plenty of storage for knives and cutting boards.

Extending the island into a bar top has also become a popular practice in large open kitchens, creating a place for guests to mingle over a glass of wine and visit with the cook, or the perfect spot for that morning paper and coffee.

Surface Style

Granite remains the most popular surface for countertops in higher end kitchens, while solid surface countertops are often the choice in more modest homes. Lighter colors tend to be the most popular, particularly in more traditional kitchens. Contemporary kitchens are more likely to have a sleek black countertop.

Vinyl flooring options have been upgraded, and some have just enough padding to make them the most comfortable choice for cooks who spend lots of time on their feet.

Ceramic tile and hardwood flooring remain popular, and dark woods are once again the choice for most New England homeowners. The wood laminate flooring products now available can be a good choice in households with young children or pets, where lots of spills can be practically guaranteed, and where ease of clean-up is key.

A kitchen designer like Ron Boivin of Ron’s Kitchen Designs in Plaistow, New Hampshire, can help you sort through all the trends to create the kitchen that is just right for you. Ron works with homeowners from North of Boston throughout Southern New Hampshire. Contact Ron for more information today.