Design Trend 1: Heart of the Home – The Multifunctional Kitchen
Today’s kitchen is more than just a place to prepare a meal. It is the heart of the home, the center of family activity. Whether it’s gathering around the island to share a meal, helping kids with homework, paying bills, finding recipes on-line, or entertaining friends and extended family—the most important trend in kitchen design is to create a space that is multifunctional and welcoming.
Integrated Seating: One of the most requested features in the kitchen is an eating area. Incorporate stylish seating into an island or peninsula by supporting a countertop overhang with decorative Olive Leaf Corbels for a traditional look, or with Plain Square Posts for casual style. Build-in a beautiful banquette – one of today’s hottest trends – with cabinetry components and finishing details for a truly custom look.
Home Office/Homework Area: Carve out a home office in a quiet corner in your kitchen for bill-paying, organizing family schedules, catching up on work, or keeping an eye on the kids while they’re doing homework or surfing the net. Stylish and practical storage options help control the clutter and keep your kitchen organized.
Secondary/Specialized Work Zones: The basic principles of the work triangle remain important, but secondary work zones create areas for the specialized activities that take place in today’s multi-functional kitchen. Lower than standard counter heights create a baking center, perfect for kneading bread or rolling out cookies; a second sink in an island allows multiple cooks to help with food prep or clean-up; wine is stored at optimal temperatures, ready to be enjoyed by a crowd, or just two.
