Strahm's Blog

Kitchen Trends for 2012

     Going into the New Year, you begin thinking about changes you are going to make to your life during the year whether it is within yourself, your career, your family or even your home. Making improvements to your home is a great way to start a new year of changes. Your kitchen is the core of your home. It is a room of expression, whether it is through food or décor. It is the meeting place where your friends and family gather. Making changes to your kitchen can be overwhelming, but even the smallest efforts can make a big difference. One of the toughest parts of the process is the decision making; so to get you started on the right track we are providing you with the kitchen trends for 2012.           

Flooring

     Flooring for homes is being improved all the time. Lower cost flooring is being created to look more luxurious. In 2012, Luxury Vinyl Tile, Porcelain Tile and Natural Stone will be the types of flooring most often used in kitchens. Out of these three trending floor options, Porcelain Tile is a great option for kitchens. It is the most durable of the three, it’s non-porous, it does not need sealed and it comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cabinets & Drawers

     One of the biggest trends for cabinets and drawers in 2012 will be to have organizational
systems within your cabinets and drawers. Having organizational systems that provide ease in storage will be a top priority for homeowners when remodeling their kitchen. Maple cabinets will be the top cabinet of choice, but choosing the less expensive option to reface or repaint your older, well-built, existing cabinets will also be a popular option. Having a mixture of painted and stained woods in the kitchen has also become very popular. A small change that makes a big difference is replacing the knobs, pulls and handles on your cabinets and drawers. There are several style options out there for knobs, pulls and handles that can portray the feel you want to go for in your kitchen. A new trend that is becoming more and more popular in kitchens is open shelving. As tableware continues to become more like pieces of art, homeowners want to show it off, and open shelving is a great way to do just that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Island

     Having an island in the center of the kitchen has been a trend for several years and will continue to be a trend. Most homeowners started out with having islands to create more surface space in their kitchen. Islands are now being given more of a purpose in the kitchen. Several kitchen islands are being dedicated to the food preparation area with storage, a small sink and adjusted counter heights so it is more comfortable for the homeowner when preparing food. Another trend in islands is using a furniture piece that brings more character into the space. 

 

 

 

 

 

Countertop Surfaces

     Using natural materials in your kitchen will be a big trend in 2012. The most used surfaces will be Soapstone, Slate, Granite and Quartz. Of these four options, Quartz is one of the top choices for kitchens. It is more durable than the rest, it never needs sealed and it is more versatile for certain applications. Quartz does not offer the natural beauty of Granite but it is starting to look more and more like Granite. Homeowners are beginning to mix more than one surface material throughout their kitchen to create a more interesting look. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appliances

     As far as appliances go, stainless steel has been a front runner for several years. Homeowners like the clean industrial look of it. However, bold colored appliances, vintage themed appliances and concealed appliances that match the cabinetry are becoming more popular. Bold colored appliances and vintage themed appliances are a great way to bring pops of color and character into your kitchen design. Drawer style appliances and glass front refrigerators are newer trends that several homeowners have become interested in. Many homeowners are beginning to use commercial kitchen features to create more of a high end restaurant look. 

Sinks

     Sinks have come a long way in the past few years and being made to be a more stylish feature in homes. The popular sinks for 2012 will be long/thin sinks, apron-front sinks, integral sinks and sinks in bold colors. More thought is being put into choosing a sink because, with so many options, sinks are not only being used to wash dishes, but also as an accent piece for the kitchen. 

Backsplash

     Having a backsplash is becoming a “must have” in kitchen design. Not only are they being used to protect the walls from grease, but they are becoming another part of the kitchen that is being used to reflect the homeowner’s style. The top trends for backsplashes are those that are an extension of the countertop, tile that matches the flooring and mosaics.

Lighting

     Lighting has become a feature in the kitchen that homeowners are beginning to pay more attention to. Quality lighting in the kitchen is important but lighting is also a design feature that can set your kitchen apart from others. LED lighting is going to be a big trend in kitchen lighting for 2012. Pendant lamps and smaller lights suspended from the ceiling with stylish shades will be seen in several kitchens this year.

 

Finishes and Colors

     The color scheme that will be seen in most remodeled kitchens in 2012 will be grays, blacks and whites. Warmer tones are not being used as much because homeowners are choosing a more modern look for their kitchen. There will be several different finishes seen in kitchens such as, light and dark natural, white / off-white hues, distressed, glazed and colored paint. A lot of these finishes will also be complimented by glass, shiny metallic and crystal.

     An open concept kitchen has remained a trend for a few years and will continue to be in the years ahead. Having an open concept kitchen naturally makes your kitchen feel more inviting. With the ever growing trend of using eco-friendly products in today’s society, homeowners have become more interested in using recycled materials in their kitchen. Homeowners are becoming less concerned about everything in their home matching perfectly, so mixing eras, textures and designs in the kitchen has become an increasing trend. With the many kitchen trends for 2012, there are several options for small or large kitchen remodels that will reflect and accommodate your lifestyle.