Practical Advice: 2016 Kitchen Trends

Refurbishing or relocating your kitchen this year? Here’s our rundown of the latest kitchen trends you might want to consider

Houzz’s latest kitchen study shows some interesting trends. With 60 per cent of people spending at least three hours a day in this room, it’s easy to see why the kitchen is dubbed the ‘heart of the home’. And it’s not just for cooking or eating; the kitchen has become a truly multi-purpose space, with 48 per cent of those surveyed saying they use their kitchen for entertaining, 44 per cent for socialising, and 32 per cent using the space for doing work or homework. In fact, almost half of the respondents (48 per cent) said their top functional priority is being able to work, play and live in their kitchen space. This shows that there is now, more than ever, a call to make this room a multifunctional area, with the ability to cater for a wide variety of tasks and activities.

A whopping 73 per cent have or would change the layout of their kitchen. In addition, around half of respondents would like their kitchen to open up to the outside, and be filled with natural light (49 per cent and 51 per cent respectively). This means that an orangery or garden room makes the perfect kitchen extension; lots of glazing allows natural daylight to flood in, and by definition opens up and enables access to the garden.

Interestingly, the top functional priority is being able to store and find things easily (58 per cent). Therefore plenty of storage is essential, as is ensuring that its configuration is ergonomic and appropriate. In large can i buy hydrocodone online open plan kitchen / living spaces, an island or peninsula can be the ideal solution for this. In fact, 42 per cent of respondents agreed that their top new built-in feature would be an island. This was closely followed by pantry cupboards, with 40 per cent aspiring to this as their top new kitchen built-in feature, and affirming that storage and organisation are amongst the most crucial elements in the kitchen.

With so many needs and wants, it can be a challenge to design a space that meets every criteria. It seems like almost half (49 percent) of respondents agree, saying that they have or would hire a kitchen designer to help them create the perfect space. If you opt for a kitchen extension and relocate your existing kitchen, then this is probably the best way forward, as a designer will have the knowledge and expertise to create a truly stunning kitchen and living space – they should have many past projects to draw inspiration from and the design and practical skills to know which solutions will work in different scenarios, so ask/make sure that you ask to see a portfolio of work.

Most importantly, for an extended space to be truly functional and aesthetically pleasing, it needs to fit seamlessly with the existing building, and create ‘flow’ between the areas. If you are thinking of extending your home with a kitchen extension, garden room or orangery, then please get in touch.