The design of the modern kitchen has shifted as new home design takes into account the changing lifestyle and tastes of the modern family. Gone are the old galley kitchens and closed up spaces that used to make the kitchen look like the room that everyone wanted to pretend didn’t exist. New kitchen designs are based on open floor plans; kitchens are now a place where people gather to share a meal before they head out, or spend an evening showing off their new cooking skills while they entertain. To that end, Kitchens Sydney has put together some contemporary elements that you will find in most new kitchens:
- The Kitchen Island: According to recent design statistics, 90% of new kitchen projects incorporate the kitchen island as a modern design concept. The modern kitchen island is designed as a clean surface for preparing food or eating meals on the go; so it is a must have for the modern kitchen where counter space is at a premium. Enough space in a modern kitchen is a major concern with smaller kitchens, and the kitchen island works perfectly to solve this problem.
- The Open Kitchen Concept: The open kitchen concept has everyone who is renovating a kitchen in an older home knocking down a wall and replacing it with a countertop-level dining space. The formal dining area is disappearing as living areas and kitchens meld into one. The formal dining table is replaced by the benchtop eating space and the living area becomes a place to work at home and relax in front of the television. Integrated dining with the kitchen is another design element that is almost universal in modern kitchen design.
- Cabinet Space: Cabinet space has change in the fact that since now kitchen space is at a premium, floor to ceiling cabinets are used to get more storage space out of them. Kitchen cabinet organizers like Lazy Susans and customized pantry shelves are becoming more popular as people need to fit more items in less space.
- Colours: While granite benchtops, dark cabinets and stainless steel appliances are still the most popular, there are now many alternatives that are durable and affordable options. Current trends are pointing towards lighter cabinets and white appliances as opposed to the darker and heavier look that is now popular. Also trending are wood laminate floors which are close enough to real wood and also durable enough to make for practical and attractive looking floors that can be used throughout the dining/kitchen/living areas.
- Technology: More and more, Kitchens Sydney predicts that you will see technology creep into the modern kitchen as consumers become inseparable from their mobile devices. Look for more computers and their docking devices as the computer age takes over and the modern kitchen becomes the kitchen of the future.