Designing and remodeling your kitchen is an opportunity to reflect on your needs in terms of functionality and style. Choosing your appliances is a significant factor in this decision-making process, and the world of kitchen equipment is increasingly offering unique and customizable variations.
Whether you want to change how you cook, how the space functions, or the color and mood of your kitchen, these appliance trends can help you transform your space. At 5blox, we love working with our clients to bring their kitchens to life, and in this article, we will introduce some of the appliance trends we are loving right now.
Induction stoves
Gas stoves have been increasingly going out of style as consumers turn their preferences toward electric stove options. Within that trend, induction stoves have risen in popularity as we see more and more people choose this option when they upgrade their appliances.
Unlike traditional cooktops, induction stoves use a magnetic field to heat the metal pots and pans without heating the stove service. They have glass surfaces like your typical electric stove, but beneath that is a coil that carries the electric current. There are pros and cons to this appliance, so you should definitely make sure it fits your needs before you choose to switch over.
- Pros: The surface doesn’t heat up and stays cool to the touch, making it safer for children or pets. Furthermore, this type of stove cooks faster than the typical electric or even gas alternatives. Plus, you have better control over temperature and can achieve a more specific heat level. Finally, they are the most energy-efficient option.
- Cons: Because they rely on a magnetic current, you have to buy induction-specific pots and pans that work with that current; your existing cookware won’t do the job when you upgrade your stove. Plus, these stoves tend to be higher in price, making them a high-end option in any kitchen remodel.
Photo credit: Sven Brandsma
Island cooktops
The idea that your stovetop has to be nestled in a corner or against a wall has been debunked. We are increasingly seeing cooktops placed on the kitchen island, either as the main stove or as a second stovetop option within a larger kitchen. This can help create a better flow in some kitchen layouts by moving some of the areas of activity away from the walls and centralizing the main cooking location to make it easier and faster to access other appliances like the fridge or sink. To make it even better, some homeowners are choosing to also add a secondary sink to their kitchen island so there is increased functionality across the room that allows multiple people can be working on a large meal simultaneously.
Photo credit: Sidekix Media
Drawer dishwashers
Dishwasher drawers are increasingly popular as they provide a much more compact and efficient way to manage dirty dishes in any kitchen. Homeowners with larger kitchens or larger families may opt for a double-drawer dishwasher to tackle twice the load. Individual drawers can typically fit in a cabinet space between 2-3 feet wide. Plus, their deep shape and design mean you can often pack in more items despite taking up a smaller space than your traditional full-height open-door dishwasher.
Infusions of color
From smaller appliances like mixers and blenders to larger fixtures like ovens, color is entering the kitchen faster than ever. Brands are offering options beyond the traditional black, white, or stainless steel to allow customers to match their space to their unique tastes and preferences and to create a more intentional design look that is cohesive throughout the entire kitchen. While the all-white look peaked in popularity, these color trends indicate a change of pace in the kitchen interior design space and are perfect for those looking to liven up their home décor. Some brands who are making moves in this direction include:
- KitchenAid’s mixer, which now comes in 27 color options.
- Forza offers various bright colors for their gas range appliances.
- True Residential provides a range of colors for their refrigerators and the accompanying hardware.
Photo credit: Latrach Med Jamil
Bespoke personalization
Appliance brands are increasingly offering customers the ability to mix and match or build their own look through a variety of colorway options and finishes. This customized approach to appliances is bringing personalization into the kitchen equipment space to increase the possibilities for interior design creativity. Two companies we see offering unique options are:
- BlueStar: With over 1,000 color options and trim customizations, this brand allows you to personalize your refrigerators to match any interior design style and storage need.
- Samsung: Their Bespoke line provides customers with the option to choose colors for their fridge, dishwasher, oven, microwave, and other kitchen appliances, even making the fridge and freezer doors different colors to create a pattern.
Beverage fridges
Customers are increasingly installing specific fridges for beverages throughout the house, both in the kitchen and beyond. There are numerous options when it comes to storing your beverages separately, and many enjoy this possibility because of the space it clears up in the fridge for other more essential items. Beverage fridges can take on many shapes and formats, including:
- Beverage drawers in the fridge itself, often located between the fridge level and the freezer drawer level.
- Freestanding small beverage fridges in the living room or other hangout areas.
- Half-height beverage-only fridges installed under the counter in the kitchen like a dishwasher or any other appliance.
If you want to redo your kitchen, begin a remodel, or work with an interior designer and incorporate any of these trends, reach out to us at 5blox to schedule a consultation!
Comments are closed.