Top 10 Kitchen Trends - Custom Home Builder Ideas
Kitchens are the central gathering place of new homes - a place where family and friends talk, cook, and eat together. The top 10 kitchen trends for 2013 revolve around:
- Professional-grade cooking capabilities
- Individual entertainment styles
- Upscale design features
- Maximization of square footage/minimization of clutter
Read on to find out what kitchen trends will hit new homes in 2013.
Kitchen Trend #1: Island with seating
Island kitchen floor plans will include seating above and innovative storage solutions below.
The island here, chosen in a version of the Carwile, features:
- Bar with seating
- Storage access on two sides
- Black granite countertop
Kitchen Trend #2: Two islands
We expect to see more creativity in kitchens, with the addition of a second island.
In this version of the Chalet Vert, a second island was added. The homeowners wanted to create the feeling of a breakfast room table with the functionality of a kitchen island.
With this second island, the kitchen gained another 21 square feet of counter space, two additional large cabinets for storage, and seating for up to five people.
Kitchen Trend #3: Gas cooking
Premium cooking appliances will take center stage in kitchens.
Gas cooktops are used by professional chefs, for their instant heat, precision, flexibility, and ease of use.
Gas cooktops use an overhead ventilation system, which can also add visual appeal to your kitchen.
Kitchen Trend #4: Premium tile backsplash
From glass mosaics to custom inlay designs, kitchens will boast premium tile backsplashes.
The kitchen pictured here features a full-height glass mini-mosaic tile pattern above the range coupled with a grey subway tile base used throughout.
Kitchen Trend #5: Granite or Quartz countertops
The preference for granite will continue in kitchens.
Granite countertops come in a huge variety of colors and patterns - and every counter is unique.
Granite countertops can be chosen to blend into or contrast against tile back splashes and kitchen cabinets.
How much do granite counter tops cost? Click here to learn more about adding granite to a kitchen.
Kitchen Trend #6: Cabinet and Island Colors
More and more kitchens are making a statement by combining Espresso/Java cabinet finishes with lighter/white island finishes.
Read more about kitchen color trends that combine dark and light cabinets.
Kitchen Trend #7: Stone accents
Stone accents - from custom wall surrounds to back splashes and inlays - will make your kitchen look and feel exclusive.
Kitchen Trend #8: Walk in pantries
Kitchens will also trend towards including one large walk in pantry or a combination of two smaller pantries.
The single large pantry can be tucked into hallways, under staircases, or turned into "hidden" rooms in order to take advantage of previously unused square footage away from the central kitchen area.
See photos of the top 5 walk in pantry designs for Raleigh new homes here.
When two pantries are included, one can be added as a cabinet. For example, the white cabinetry pantry pictured here was included in a version of the Brogan.
(note: this kitchen features the reverse of kitchen trend #6 - a dark island combined with white cabinets)
Kitchen Trend #9: Multiple sinks and faucets
New home kitchens will include more convenience and functionality for those who love to cook, with additional sinks, faucets, and fillers, including:
- Prep sinks/vegetable sinks
- Island sinks
- Pot fillers (located above the range to avoid carrying heavy pots of water across the kitchen)
(note: this kitchen has a two island floor plan design)
Kitchens will also trend towards including a central sink with one larger bowl, rather than two medium bowls (usually a 60-40 ratio). A single, larger sink will accommodate wide baking sheets and tall pots/pans.
Kitchen Trend #10: Beverage center
More kitchens will feature some type of beverage center.
Specialty beverage centers can include:
- Wine refrigerators
- Beer and soda refrigerators
Built in beverage centers can be bold centerpieces of the kitchen, or discrete storage areas tucked around the corner in a butler's pantry or hallway.
In this list of top 10 kitchen trends, you have seen:
- Professional-grade appliances for those who love to cook.
- Floor plan features that meet individual entertainment styles, such as adding a second island, additional sink, or beverage center.
- Upscale designs such as stone accents, custom tile backsplashes, and one-of-a-kind countertops.
- Square footage maximization with tucked-in pantries/island seating and clutter minimization with inventive storage ideas.
