Ok…can you answer a really stupid question? I was always under the impression that stainless steel was one of the hardest kitchen surfaces to keep clean and streak free. Have things changed?

I do love the stove in #4…reminds me of my old farmhouse stove that I currently have. And…I love the idea of under the counter refrigerators.

I suppose there is some effort to keeping stainless steel clean, but I am really okay with using a material that shows you when it’s dirty over one that hides the fact that it’s dirty. Stainless steel is very sanitary and can be cleaned with soap and water – new s.s. counter tops can be a little fussing because they show streaks but after they have been used for a while, the streaking issues will disappear.

We use under-counter refrigerators quite often, particularly in rooms other than the kitchen.

Thanks for commenting Susan, what a treat. I actually read a lot of your articles when I was researching this post (didn’t want to embarrass myself so I wanted to check my list against the master).

After I had finished my own list, I went back to change the title to include the word “Modern” because there is a big difference trending between modern/ contemporary and transitional + traditional. I do think you are right that the kitchen, the heart of the home (and typically the most expensive room in the home) is getting the attention it deserves. It used to be that the “open” kitchen might face into the secondary living space or play room. Now it is opening onto the formal living space and the finish out is following suit.

Good post, Bob. In the modern kitchens I do, I’m seeing all of the items on the list – except possibly the island pendant lighting. That’s especially true for lower ceiling spaces.

I’m a huge advocate of the social kitchen, stainless steel (appliances & finishes alike), &built in appliances. I incorporated all of those in my own kitchen & have never regretted it in the least.

One thing that is missing from the list is green finish materials. (Except quartz countertops). Unless I overlooked it?

Now, if we could just convert more of those raised panel addicts to slab doors….

Interesting to see more integral stainless sinks and countertops. I had a 1912 house to remodel and the owner wanted to tear out original stainless sink, counter and backsplash. The walls were white subway tile up to 4′-6″ height.

Bob, you have covered every aspect of good kitchen design which I have incorporated in my own kitchen design work over the last decade.
Also, in keeping with the “social” aspect of today’s kitchens and with the emphasis on horizontal line and an open flow, we rarely see the raised bar counter. All the photos you posted show counter height bar stools and that is also a really big “trend”.

Your photos exhibited many galley style kitchens with an island which is highly functional and desirable layout. This layout allows for more work zones and the space flows so much nicer compared to the enclosed U shaped kitchens so popular 20-30 years ago. Much of my work involves remodeling kitchens and baths. I have removed many of those U shape jobs with their difficult corners and less functional spaces.

In addition to all of the trends you mentioned, designers are very focused on universal design which allow the owner to age gracefully in place – that is part of all the focus on the pull outs and emphasis of drawers below counter over standard cabinet doors. movement.

And I have to add, you can’t say “all” designers shy away from stainless counter tops as that is incorrect, a number of us do actually use this material….

I agree with all of your points except counters. Granite is still very popular and I don’t think it’s going away anytime soon.

it does – absolutely. I’ll see about tracking down a photo and replacing it.

Thanks

Great list – tho’ I think only the youngest children will comfortably share their homework space with food prep – wait until you are a parent of teens, and you’ll see! Ideally you need a surface for food prep, a surface for meal and snack consumption, and a surface for homework/projects, all within easy reach. Of course you could do it all at one island, but in an ideal world I’d opt for an island plus a table for families with kids. And I’d still like my food storage to be between the garage and the eating area, please – some things don’t ever change.

Great insights, these are useful considerations when choosing the ideal kitchen Ideen.Wenn better to follow like a contemporary style of the internal listed tips & work to have decorative kitchen.

They are able to quickly return to see what each kitchen design with more efficient, they do not have twenty. And me off of their own that I’m grateful for their input in the design tolerances leap.
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Gorgeous stuff; the horizontal grain, in particular, is totally under-appreciated in modern design schools. I think if you were to mix it with stainless steel appliances and furnishings, you’d really have something bold on your hands. Am I the only one thinking along these lines?

Look around at magazines, the web etc. to realize that only architects prefer the style of kitchens featured here.  When people can choose (such as buying a house) the overwhelming preference is not for modern design.  Perhaps this is why so many architects are unemployed and have so little impact on the majority of residential design.  And, I say this as an architect!

Thanks for the article, even though these trends are stunning they don’t appear to be too common in the American market place. I hope that some of the features you talk about make it into more and more homes in the U.S.  :)

Great article…. one question…. if you were right in the middle of ten years behind, or ten years ahead, does that mean you were right on with what they were saying??

Good interesting article that touches on all aspects of designing kitchens, but the kitchen ventilation, which is important.

 Bob, how would you install those finger pulls on the upper cabinets? Wouldn’t the curve on the pull be opposite of the ones on the drawers?