Beyond Stainless Steel: America's Next Top Kitchen Trends

When it comes to kitchen design, what’s the next stainless steel?

Good question.

For nearly 30 years, the finish has reigned as the top choice for appliances, sinks and faucets. And despite reports every few years that it’s on its way out, the trend hasn’t faded just yet. (So you’ll just have to keep dealing with all those fingerprints for a while.)

That doesn’t mean new trends aren’t emerging, however. Here are a few to keep an eye on in 2015 and beyond:

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(Can’t find the refrigerator? That’s the idea. Photo: Heather Hungeling Design)

Matching Panels

As open-format home plans become more popular, people want large appliances to blend in rather than stand out. (In other words, you might not want to sit in your living room and have a view of a shiny, hulking refrigerator.) Paneling appliances so they resemble cabinetry helps them fit easily into a space.

“Among my clientele … integrating the refrigerator into the design scheme is much more typical, rather than [having] a large ‘mattress size’ swatch of stainless steel in the kitchen,” says leading kitchen designer Matthew Quinn.

Indeed, in its 2015 trend report, the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) identified French-door and built-in cabinet depth fridges as growing in popularity. And if you’re curious as to which cabinetry wood is on the rise, it’s walnut, says John Petrie, CMKBD, owner and designer at Mother Hubbard’s Custom Cabinetry in Pennsylvania.

“Whether it’s entire walnut kitchen or as an accent we’re doing a fair bit of it,” he says. “It reminds me of a midcentury modern look.”

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(Glass-front refrigerators allow everyone to see how healthy you eat. Photo: Bravo)

Glass-Fronts

Whites and off-whites are currently the most popular kitchen color schemes, according to NKBA data. And so, clean, modern, glass-front appliances are hot at the moment, says Jamie Gold, CKD, CAPS, a San-Diego based kitchen designer.

“I’m seeing glass fronts, especially white,” says Gold, also author of New Kitchen Ideas That Work. “There are black glass fronts, but the whites are popular with homeowners creating glossy, white modern kitchens.  I believe these glass-front appliances are gaining traction because of the popularity of white cabinets and white iPhones as a design inspiration.”

(Composite sink. Credit: Thinkstock)

Granite Composite Sinks

 

Granite composite sinks—typically about 80 percent granite and 20 percent acrylic resins—are also “gaining ground,” says Gold. “These come in a range of neutrals and offer an extremely scratch-resistant surface.” Word to the wise: Though highly durable, these sinks can be damaged by chemical cleansers and the lighter colors sometimes stain.

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(Quartz countertops come in solid, sleek colorways and also more natural tones. Photo:  DecorPad)

Quartz and Marble Countertops

Why are people increasingly turning to quartz and marble? They’re convenient, says Maria Stapperfenne, CKD CBD, manager of Tewksbury Kitchens & Baths in New Jersey. Stapperfenne, president of the NKBA, adds, “They’re nonporous, so that makes them lower-maintenance options, not needing any periodic sealing that most natural stones require.”

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(Copper faucets are becoming more popular. Photo: Camille Styles)

Warm Metal Faucets

When it comes to faucets—yep—stainless still rules. But bronzes, coppers and gold are on the upswing, says Gold. “There are also two-tone faucets in a metal combined with a composite,” she says. “Sometimes these are chosen to match a granite kitchen sink.” You could get one of those or—here’s an idea—you could just go with stainless steel.

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