Have you heard the news? Houzz has released its Kitchen Trend Watch for 2015. We’ve had a peek and agree that some of these are going to be heavy hitters, while others may take a bit of time to arrive in Western Canadian homes. Many should be considered for that upcoming 2015 kitchen renovation and might be a good inspirational starting point to see where things are headed. We wanted to share our opinion on the upcoming kitchen design trends of 2015. Let’s explore and see what the experts are predicting to be on trend for 2015.
Furniture Style Design Features: Furniture kick, tapered legs, furniture feet on vanities or islands are some great options. Don’t be afraid to make it fancy. Just remember this is not always the best plan for structural reasons, but it sure looks good. A good kitchen designer will let you know if this is a bad idea.
Open shelving that are user friendly: This is a great way to display those important “must see” decorative items in your kitchen. Travel mementoes, vintage finds/keepsakes and cook books are some of the popular items to display. Just remember that open shelf cabinets typically add additional costs to your kitchen renovation. This is because of the additional finishing work required to stain/finish the inside of the cabinet, which will now be exposed.
Wallpaper: Wallpaper has come a long way and can add that awesome visual impact into your new kitchen remodel. We get mixed reviews on wallpaper in the kitchen. Our advice is to remember to keep wallpapers away from high splash zones, as this could be a cleaning disaster.
Traditional Style Kitchens with a twist of Modern: This one is right on point. We’re seeing more of a mixture of textures, colors and materials. Example: Painted white kitchen with shaker style doors mixed with a dark stained maple/alder or cherry island. To take things one step further, consider use exciting European inspired textured materials on your island back panel or the entire island.
Ceilings that make you look up: Bulkheads, coffered ceilings, beams and tray ceilings are the most popular. These details can really set apart a basic kitchen from a high-end kitchen.
Luxe Metallics: Designers are predicting that finishes such as gold, copper and bronze will be making an appearance at a kitchen near you.
Textures: Over the years, we have seen a shift towards more textured finishes in the floor covering options and we are now seeing it in the kitchen business. Textured Melamine cabinets are a fantastic choice and offer some of the best durability for fashion and function. Other ways to inject texture into your kitchen is by selecting a handcrafted finish with a chalked feature. See our Fusion Line of cabinets for a great example of this. You can also add texture on your countertop. Leather finishes on granite are another popular way of adding some texture into your space. If you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing a leather finish on granite, it’s a must see!
Black is the new Black: Black cabinetry and/or black countertops could be “on trend” in 2015. Choosing a rich dark stain on MDF, Oak, Maple, Alder or Cherry is a nice way to achieve that sleek look in your kitchen. Just remember, dark cabinets are harder to keep clean and tend to show dust and water spots easily. If you have OCD, perhaps there are better options for you ;-)
Minimal Wall Cabinets: The open concept kitchen has remained the top choice for most new home plans. We are seeing more and more “galley styled” kitchens in many house plans today. In the good old days we would fill that wall with as many upper cabinets as we could. Fast forward to today and you will see less upper cabinets and more exposed wall space. This helps draw more attention to windows or other architectural details.
Repetitive Patterns: The design experts are predicting the use of more repetitive patterns in tile. Middle Eastern or Turkish tile patterns are starting to pop up in North American kitchens, adding that global flavor. Again, this style doesn’t appeal to everyone, but it sure is attention grabbing.
Tribal Inspired Tones: We haven’t seen this as much in Western Canada, but experts are saying that vibrant hues will be making a comeback back. Be on the lookout for deep rich reds, and mustard yellow tones. If you need inspiration from the professionals check out the Optimistic Odyssey color mix from Sherwin Williams, who deliver a “brightened outlook and adventurous spirit” for 2015.
Vertical-joint wood paneling: The popularity of V-groove paneling is on the rise, which plays into the texture trend. This is one design feature that can be more successfully accomplished by using a decorator back panel on an island that is custom made to match your doorstyle. This is our preferred method, rather than using joint paneling. Either way, adding chamfered edge details will sure make the back of your island stands out.
Shaker Style: Some say that the shaker style will be here forever and is timeless. We agree that this is probably true. For that traditional look, consider a 3” wide stile and rail profile on your cabinet door to “beef it up”. Often this 3” shaker style door is complimented with flat/slab drawer, leaving you with endless handle/hardware opportunities.
Not on the List:
Lighting: One trend that we feel is on the rise for 2015 is the use of lighting. We are seeing more of a trend towards lighting in other areas, in addition to the must have under cabinet lighting. For example, colored or color changing toe kick lighting and above cabinet lighting are becoming more popular.
Closing Off
Remember to always trust your instinct with making major selections pertaining to your upcoming kitchen remodel. This is the best advice we can give. Trends come and go, but ultimately you have to live in your home. It’s important that you “LOVE” your kitchen and not “like” your kitchen.
If you need kitchen renovation advice, don’t hesitate to give us a shout, as we would be glad to help. We have showrooms in Saskatoon, Regina, Calgary and Edmonton. Click here to find the nearest Superior Cabinets location.
Also, be sure to check out and read “Trend Watch: 13 Kitchen Looks Expected to Be Big in 2015” on Houzz.com for their perspective on the upcoming 2015 kitchen design trends.
