Kitchen and Beyond: Stainless Steel & Top Kitchen Trends For 2013

Kitchen and Beyond: Stainless Steel & Top Kitchen Trends For 2013

By John Voket

Many of the latest homes being designed locate kitchens directly off, or open to, the home's large great rooms. This layout enables the kitchen to now look less "kitcheny" and more often like an inviting place to gather and entertain.    Decorative elements that are strong right now include natural finishes like wood and stone complimented by glass, shiny metallics, special attention to lighting details, and even crystal.

Andrea Enns, Stanton Homes' Interior Design Expert, also reaffirms that it is quite "safe" to invest in stainless steel appliances and finishes. Enns says stainless steel has been used in the best kitchens for over a century due to its universal appeal, its ability to provide a sterile surface, its shiny appearance, as well as its association with luxury.

On another front, the Consumer's Voice for Kitchen and Bath Remodeling (myconsumersvoice.com) is promoting three new kitchen trends for 2013, including:

Soft Contemporary – A simpler approach of the modern kitchen, a soft contemporary design doesn’t have as many harsh lines, but more soft accents throughout the space. This look can be achieved through modern accents in a more traditional space such as contemporary bar stools or lighting.

New Traditional – Instead of the “transitional” kitchen name, new traditional is much like transitional but has more emphasis on classic touches. Instead of the large, overbearing feel of a traditional kitchen, the new traditional design feels much lighter.

Eclectic – This design trend is less of one style as it is a mixture of many. We see a lot of spaces putting together different finishes, patterns and textures to create a space that is truly one of a kind.