Modern Kitchen Design
When it comes to kitchens, the top contenders in the match are modern or contemporary as some people call it and traditional. These two contenders are very different; they use different aspects in the kitchen, different textures, materials and more. In this article we are going to be talking about modern kitchen trends - so no, you will not be seeing any ceramic roosters, white kitchens, or worse chandeliers over perfectly built kitchen islands! Instead, you are going to see some really luxurious materials, clean lines, decorative hardware and more. So if you like modern styles or designs or you are thinking about upgrading to a fabulous modern kitchen, here are some of the things you are going to want to include. Some of these are staples i.e.; things you should always include in a modern kitchen while others are the latest trends! Have fun looking at these trends, and let them inspire you to make your own creative ideas. And if you want to find more great ideas for a modern kitchen make sure to contact a kitchen design specialist in Atherton for more advice.
Cabinets
Cabinets in terms of traditional tend to be more ornate. Cabinets in terms of modern tend to be more simple, sleek and smooth. You don’t usually see a lot of articulated designs on cabinets in a modern kitchen and I don’t think this is going to change anytime soon to be honest - and I am thankful! In the kitchen for modern trends, one of the most popular options these days is white cabinets with natural woods in darker stains or naturally dark woods like walnut. White cabinets tend to automatically mean traditional, but not in this case!
Countertop Materials
Luxurious stone has always and will always be in modern kitchens, but more and more as time goes on Calcutta Gold marble is being seen more in modern kitchens than any other material for the countertops. People are using less granite, than usual and if they do use it, its honed granite which means it’s not as shiny as the original granite counters. Calcutta Gold Marble is a beautiful material. Here is a little description and some background I found on a product site: "Calacatta Gold is a natural stone marble selection from the Calacatta Borghini and Calacatta Betolli quarries. These two quarries are next to one another and thus supply blocks that can be used to produce the Gold selection. The marble quarries are located in the Apuan Mountain range near Carrara, Italy. Calacatta Gold will have a creamy white background with light grey veins and a mix of gold. The distinctive characteristic that makes this marble unique is the black pencil veining between the white background and grey veining. There will also be black spots that look like mica on some tiles. Calacatta Gold marble may be used with the following slab colors, since they come from the same quarry: Calacatta Gold Extra, Calacatta Super Extra, Calacatta Borghini and Calacatta Crema."
Hardware Choices
Decorative pulls and knobs have been a popular choice in modern kitchens, but now finger pulls are more popular than ever before. Personally, I have these in my kitchen and I hate the finger pulls. They tend to be difficult to open, they hurt your fingers at times and they make the cabinets look a little too plane. So while I’ll probably divert back to decorative pulls, you can choose what option you really like and go with it. Yea, trends are what’s popular or in now, but you also have to add what you like in your kitchen and your home and what you are comfortable with.
Stainless Steel Appliances
These are never going away to be honest, stainless steel in a modern kitchen is like bread and butter - they just sort of go together perfectly. The big name brands are also still popular; Viking, Sub Zero, Dacor, etc. If you are one of those people that guffaws at stainless steel appliances and thinks they are a waste of money; I dare you to look in any real estate posting these days and NOT see something in the kitchen that is stainless steel! It’s not happening! In fact, a lot of the postings on these real estate sites actually use their Stainless Steel appliances as a selling point and will probably mention the term "modern" or talk about a modern kitchen renovation.
Cabinets
Cabinets in terms of traditional tend to be more ornate. Cabinets in terms of modern tend to be more simple, sleek and smooth. You don’t usually see a lot of articulated designs on cabinets in a modern kitchen and I don’t think this is going to change anytime soon to be honest - and I am thankful! In the kitchen for modern trends, one of the most popular options these days is white cabinets with natural woods in darker stains or naturally dark woods like walnut. White cabinets tend to automatically mean traditional, but not in this case!
Countertop Materials
Luxurious stone has always and will always be in modern kitchens, but more and more as time goes on Calcutta Gold marble is being seen more in modern kitchens than any other material for the countertops. People are using less granite, than usual and if they do use it, its honed granite which means it’s not as shiny as the original granite counters. Calcutta Gold Marble is a beautiful material. Here is a little description and some background I found on a product site: "Calacatta Gold is a natural stone marble selection from the Calacatta Borghini and Calacatta Betolli quarries. These two quarries are next to one another and thus supply blocks that can be used to produce the Gold selection. The marble quarries are located in the Apuan Mountain range near Carrara, Italy. Calacatta Gold will have a creamy white background with light grey veins and a mix of gold. The distinctive characteristic that makes this marble unique is the black pencil veining between the white background and grey veining. There will also be black spots that look like mica on some tiles. Calacatta Gold marble may be used with the following slab colors, since they come from the same quarry: Calacatta Gold Extra, Calacatta Super Extra, Calacatta Borghini and Calacatta Crema."
Hardware Choices
Decorative pulls and knobs have been a popular choice in modern kitchens, but now finger pulls are more popular than ever before. Personally, I have these in my kitchen and I hate the finger pulls. They tend to be difficult to open, they hurt your fingers at times and they make the cabinets look a little too plane. So while I’ll probably divert back to decorative pulls, you can choose what option you really like and go with it. Yea, trends are what’s popular or in now, but you also have to add what you like in your kitchen and your home and what you are comfortable with.
Stainless Steel Appliances
These are never going away to be honest, stainless steel in a modern kitchen is like bread and butter - they just sort of go together perfectly. The big name brands are also still popular; Viking, Sub Zero, Dacor, etc. If you are one of those people that guffaws at stainless steel appliances and thinks they are a waste of money; I dare you to look in any real estate posting these days and NOT see something in the kitchen that is stainless steel! It’s not happening! In fact, a lot of the postings on these real estate sites actually use their Stainless Steel appliances as a selling point and will probably mention the term "modern" or talk about a modern kitchen renovation.