kitchens

It seems more and more that the kitchen is becoming one of the most important and central rooms of the modern home. It is no longer simply a place where food preparation takes place; it is now a place you want to spend time in. The kitchen design trends for 2010 support this movement with kitchen designs that no longer separate the kitchen from the rest of the home but instead integrate it into any home environment. There are many factors that are impacting the changes in kitchen design for 2010. One of which is the growing popularity of both apartment and loft style living. These living arrangements mean space is limited and innovative kitchen designs are needed in order to accommodate smaller spaces. Kitchen designs now need to satisfy not only the needs of customers in terms of the best modern appliances but kitchen designs also need to take into account the changing environment and the best way to conserve energy and resources.

Here are the top 10 kitchen design trends for 2010:

1) It is now common for the kitchen and entertaining area to share the same space. This means that there needs to be room for both food preparation and seating. Kitchen designs are making use of benchtops ensuring that they serve a variety of purposes. The ‘breakfast bar’ provides legroom for mealtime as well as bench space for easy access to appliances and space for food preparation.

2) The latest buzzword in kitchen design is ‘integrated.’ This means that state-of-the-art equipment is seamlessly concealed within bespoke cabinetry. In the latest kitchen designs cabinets are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. With modern kitchen designs, fittings are designed to blend into a totemic whole.

3) Drawers are becoming more prevalent in kitchen design trends. With drawers, pots and pans are easier to find and get to. Drawers are available for everything, including warming plates, dishwashers and freezers. They provide more storage space and are ergonomic, operating at an optimum handling level.

4) Conservation is a reoccurring theme in kitchen design trends for 2010. Opting for natural lighting (such as skylights) is not only functional, creating scope but an energy saving option for the modern kitchen.

5) Of course artificial lighting is a necessity in the modern kitchen. That is why kitchen designs now incorporate energy saving light bulbs, fluorescent bulbs, dimmers and mini halogen lights that are long lasting and kind to the environment.

6) In keeping with the theme of conservation kitchen designs now include sinks that come in variable bowl sizes to accommodate user requirements therefore not encouraging the overuse of natural resources such as water. Kitchen design developments include dishwashers that also wash dishes in separate compartments to conserve water.

7) Another kitchen design trend for 2010 for the environmentally minded is the use of bamboo finish on cabinets. Wood tiles are also a sustainable resource.

8) With life being as fast paced as it is in today’s society, convenience plays a vital role in modern kitchen designs. This means saving time on chores and this where the latest appliances are designed to do the work for you. Kitchen design trends for 2010 include dishwashers that are designed to make unloading easier and ovens easier to clean and handle.

9) In terms of colour, kitchen design trends for 2010 are varied. Reds, pinks and oranges are suited to a bigger space while for smaller spaces it is best to opt for cooler colours such as blue and grey.

10) Stainless steel appliances continue to be a trend in modern kitchen design. The best colours to compliment stainless steel are white, cream and mushroom. Black or white kitchens are also a modern addition to kitchen design. They combine both classicism and modernism.

Kitchen design trends for 2010 incorporate the needs and desires of the modern individual and family while also being aware of energy conservation and conserving natural resources.