2014 kitchen trends in custom homes

2014 trends - Kitchens

Now that we are into 2014 there are emerging trends in kitchens that are being installed in new custom homes and custom renovations. A lot of the things that we did in the 2013 construction year were the same as in previous years, there are definite trends that have arose and more that have become popular because of the growing number of people using them.

Kitchens

Here is a list of the trends that have stayed the same over the last several years;

• Viking and Wolfs are the most popular ovens and cook tops in high end kitchens.

• Islands are still the most popular way to create counter space in kitchens. The size of islands continues grow.

• Multiple dishwashers which were only a novelty and an excess in years previous are now the norm in large kitchens that plan to see a lot of traffic.

• White is a colour that is back in for kitchens, it has rapidly replaced the darker bolder colours of the last couple of years, you can’t open a magazine or watch a television show without seeing one.

• Stainless steel is still the most popular for appliances.

• Multiple sinks are still popular, usually a large main sink and then a small separate sink that is used to wash fruit. But with larger kitchens two larger sinks are growing in popularity.

• Multiple ovens are still popular.

• Convection ovens that double as microwaves have quickly replaced the traditional stove with the microwave/hood vent over top.

• Granite had been the most popular choice in kitchens for a long time. But with the invention of new manufactured products for counter tops that are comparative in price with the traditional granite, you are seeing a lot more home owners choosing Caesar stone, Quartz and Corian. These products have a lot of the same characteristics as granite, some of them are also cheaper and they come in a variety of colours and styles. Trends right now is to do a mix of manufactured and granite. This adds a little variety to the kitchen and can also solve the problem in large kitchens of trying to find enough granite that matches for every surface in the ever expanding surface area.

• Painted kitchen cupboards are still the most popular choice over stained wood.

• Under mount stainless steel sinks are still the most popular option.

• The main sink is now placed in the island instead of on a wall under a window. The main sink in the island faces toward the living room so that people working in the kitchen can interact with their guests. This goes along with the kitchen being the hub of the home.

• Specially designed cabinets are common now to help fit things easier in your kitchen such as pot drawers, spice racks, custom dish racks and small speciality drawers that hold your wash cloths and dish soup.

• Custom panels covering fume hoods is a common site in most new kitchens. The exposed stainless steel fume hood is not seen as often as before.

• Granite that waterfalls over the end of islands and cabinets have become very popular.

• Large kitchen taps with pull out sprayers are common in all new kitchens.

Here are the new trends in kitchens;

• People are starting to turn away from buying sub-zero fridges, the size, cost and problems that people are having with them are starting to make homeowners look at other alternatives.

• Samsung fridges are becoming a popular option for people because of their reliability and there price.

• After years of kitchens becoming more efficient with space the size of kitchens are growing bigger with people looking for more working surface area and cabinet space.

• Under mount microwaves were all the rage for the last couple of years but the popularity of the under counter microwave seems to be fading as the motorized door and the awkward way to place food in and retrieve it are turning people away and back to microwaves that are either on the counter or mounted in the cabinetry.

• As multiple ovens are popular so has the popularity of multiple wall ovens made a resurgence.

• The hottest trend these days in granite counter tops is called Titanium. It is an expensive granite that has a unique pattern that is usually dark with lighter to white stripes running through it.

• Wall ovens with microwaves that share the same trims are all the rage right now, making the two appliances seem like one.

• A couple of years ago the trend was large white country sinks that protrude out the front of the cabinets showing a finished white face as an apron, this sink style has stayed popular but not in white, the newest trend is in stainless steel.

• Wood counter tops on islands are coming back in style. The natural, warm feeling and look of wood tops gives a kitchen a more homely feel.

• Stained kitchen cabinets are starting to make a comeback in country homes. The increased cost is not deterring homeowners as much.

• Glass in upper cabinets is also making a comeback as designers try to make homes with high ceilings of 9 feet or more seem smaller and more homely in the kitchen area.

• With glass upper cabinets in style so is interior lighting of them. This adds an accent to the kitchen and a richness to the home in general.

• The hot new colour for appliances is matte grey. It gives the appliances a completely more understated look then having stainless steel. This is for people who like their cabinets to be the centrepiece of the kitchens instead of the appliances.

• Large custom kitchens have work areas, having multiple islands is the way that they are accomplishing this.

Kitchen areas in custom homes are becoming larger with the area becoming a more multi use place for the whole family. Sitting area’s for breakfast or homework and adjoining rooms for pantries are making the kitchen area a whole hub for the home not just a place to prepare meals. The wiring for audio/video and the availability of cheaper wireless technology has allowed internet and television into the kitchen. Screens are being installed in kitchens for people to either watch television while they have breakfast or with the advent of the internet and the pvr they are able to prepare that recipe that they saw on a cooking show.

As designs change and styles come and go you must find a balance between what you want as the homeowner and what will reflect well in the value of your home.

Rob Abbott
Operations Manager
Village Builders Inc.

What your builder needs to know about your new appliances!

When building or renovating a home, something that people have a tendency to over look telling there contractors about the appliances they plan to install in the house. When buying new appliances for your home there are certain things that you need to tell your contractor before he gets past the drywall stage of the project.

New washer and dryer's have some special needs that have to be addressed before installation. A growing trend is toward steam washer and dryers. This can require an extra water line run to the dryer and a metal exhaust pipe and hood instead of plastic. If there stackable the exhaust might need to be run up the wall to a certain height. Some dryer's have a down draft that has to be placed in the floor at a specific point so that the dryer can sit right over it. Some washer and dryer's have special shelving that has to be installed or want a laundry tub installed between them. If they are low slung machines you might want your contractor to build you a platform so that you don't have to bend over to assess the machines. Laundry counter tops need to be ended at a certain point so that they don't interfer with the installation or operation of the machines. Some people like to install washer/dryers on the second floor, so most contractor's will install a waterproof basin with a built in drain so that if the washing machine ever overflows, or the water connection fails the whole house wouldn't receive water damage.

In the kitchen, appliances have changed some much in the past couple of years contractor's are having trouble keeping up with the changing times. There now oven's that use steam to cook with, so they require a water line to be run to them. Ovens that are not just gas or electric are gas cook tops and electric ovens underneath. There are slide in ranges that require a normal stove plug, there are wall ovens that need the stoves to be hard wired by an electrican. There are kitchens with multiple ovens and multiple dishwashers. Kitchen's with 2 or 3 sinks are not special anymore they are becoming the norm. Some kitchens have the microwave mounted above the stove with a built in exhaust that needs to be piped out the wall, some have exhaust hoods that require large piping, specific dimensions and special electrical lines.

Fridges now have water dispensors and need water lines ran to them. Some kitchens have side by side stand up fridge/freezers. Alarm lines can be installed on these waterlines so that if they ever fail you are warned about it before it is to late.

Instant hotwater systems now can be installed underneath the counter next to the sink. These allow someone to have a cup of hotwater to make tea or coffee as easily as turning on a tap. This requires the contractor to install electrical under the sink, a water line under the sink and a water line leading to a tap that is next to the kitchen sink.

So when your planning your project and your contractor asks you if there's anything they need to know, think about the applainces that your planning to buy or have already bought. Because those applainces could cost you money near the end of the project if the contractor has to start opening holes in the walls or cieling to run extra water, electrical, gas, drain or exhaust lines.

Rob Abbott

Village builders Inc.

robabbott@villagebuilders.ca