Kitchen configurations today often incorporate features that satisfy individual needs: from a dog house custom-built into base cabinets, to countertops of multiple heights to provide work areas for tall adults and small children in the same space.
Today, kitchens are larger than ever, with designs for kitchen remodels often “stealing” space from an adjacent, infrequently used formal dining room, hallway, or butler’s pantry.
Kitchens need to be larger to accommodate the plethora of appliances. And, in addition to accommodating cooling and cooking appliances and sinks, as mentioned above, kitchen designers must find space for specialty appliances, such as built-in coffee machines, wok modules, and steam ovens.
Amenities are definitely “in.” So what about advancements in 21st-century technologies? Although the basic appliances and concepts may remain the same, technology is enabling manufacturers to refine those products’ capabilities to create more efficient, flexible, and functional kitchen designs.
The kitchen faucet, for example, not only has an easy pull-out spray feature, but can be accompanied by a water filter, hot-water dispenser, electronic hands-free on/off control, and even visual illumination that indicates on/off or hot/cold.
Storage has come a long way from simple shelves and pull-out drawers. Custom cutlery inserts, refined hardware that eases door opening and closing, and flexible base-drawer inserts that can be changed to suit the size of the objects needing storage are just some of the options.
The need to include more appliances in the kitchen while maintaining traffic flow has led to the increased popularity of a closet-like pantry inside or adjacent to the kitchen to hold less frequently used foodstuffs and small appliances.
The use of technology in crafting cabinetry has resulted in a variety of wood veneers, lacquers, laminates, glass, and metals, in addition to the standard range of solid woods. One manufacturer even offers the option of imprinting cabinet doors with the homeowner’s choice of enlarged photos.
Countertop materials have long benefited from advancements in technology, with new materials that include colored concrete, engineered quartz, and solid surfacing. The 21st century has brought further innovation, including the infusion of antibacterial and stain-resistant treatments into engineered quartz and other stone surfaces.
FRIENDS WITH NATURE Rising gas prices, increased media attention to the hazards of global warming, and the development of more eco-friendly and water-conserving products are all factors that have led to increased interest in green products and sustainable design.