I'm no Chef, but I do spend a great deal of time in our kitchen. I was fortunate enough to grow up with a Mom who served home cooked meals most evenings. (Not to dis, but Dad did and still does equate a bucket of KFC for dinner.) My wife too, came from a family that placed a heavy emphasis on fresh, authentic food cooked with lots of love (She is Italian, Cuban, with a bit of Spanish and no temper, but I digress.) Because of this, we truly consider our kitchen to be the heart of the home. We're constantly preparing, cooking and cleaning up after our meals. We tend to value innovative trends that can make a kitchen more functional. We also appreciate cool design ideas, even if they’re not our style.
Tired of granite?
Exotic wood countertops are slowly coming into vogue as are exotic cabinet veneers. These planks run the entire length of the countertop, free of butt joints. Companies generally use less than ten percent of the tree to ensure that there won't be any knots or sap wood. This process also keeps the grain consistent throughout. Luxury homeowners are using a variety of exotic and domestic wood, including African mahogany, lyptus, zebrawood and teak. I'm not too crazy about this style, but I'm curious to see if it morphs over to the mainstream over the next few years. I also wonder about the durability and maintenance with these.
Dishwasher: Enjoy the Silence
Anybody who has ever had a noisy dishwasher will relish the idea of one that is super quiet. I was visiting my brother in Texas for the holidays recently and didn't even realize his Bosch dishwasher was on. I was standing right next to it and could not hear a thing. In addition to its silent operation, it offered a built in water softener, color display and top notch energy efficiency. Impressed, I told him he had the Lexus of dishwashers. He agreed.
Wall Ovens, exciting stuff
The latest line of wall ovens coming onto the market are not only beautiful and high tech, but provide features that make it easier to assemble your meal. Wireless features now allow you to control everything while you're on the go. From your smartphone you can set the temperature, timer and even the oven cleaning mode. A quick steam cleaning option is also available.
Built Ins FTW
Built in refrigerators have such an enormous impact on the overall look of a kitchen. These are designed for serious storage while integrating themselves seamlessly with the rest of the cabinets. These come in three main varieties, custom, counter depth and all-refrigerator. Any of these options can turn an ordinary kitchen into something much more unique. Not only will it provide you with a much more custom finish, but it can save space too.
Kitchen Backsplashes, can I get a witness?
I'm a huge fan of backsplashes in kitchens. They can change the dynamic and overall vibe without much work at all. They are also fairly easy DIY projects if you are so inclined. What's fantastic about tile is that there is a great deal of flexibility in both price and style. Laser-cut, mirror, diagonal, large pattern, subway, herringbone and mosaic can all add character and depth to your kitchen.
El agua caliente en la demanda!
Finally, for anybody who understands the importance of hot water on demand, pot fillers are the way to go. These devices save time and add to the overall character of your kitchen. There are deck-mount pot filler faucets, which mount on the counter top and wall-mount pot fillers (guess where they mount?) Personally I prefer the wall-mount pot fillers and find them more attractive.