Importance of Appliances in Kitchen Design
Food is at the heart of any kitchen design, so it is safe to say that choosing food-related appliances is an essential component of a well-rounded kitchen remodel. Your appliance selections must fit your home and family’s requirements around functionality, including the way you like to cook, how often you cook, and how many cooks work together in the kitchen. Selecting appliances should also take into account other factors like how frequently you entertain, whether you have kids coming and going looking for snacks, the age range of your household, and more.
If you are replacing appliances as part of a full kitchen remodel, take this opportunity to find the perfect appliances to meet all your needs. Appliances can make cooking more fun and clean-up easier. They can also become part of an interconnected smart home, allowing you to control appliances from your smart devices. They also impact your room with the size, style, and finish.
Let’s explore some of the latest trends in appliances for kitchen designs to help inspire your choices!
Functionality Trends
Steam Ovens
These ovens offer a healthier cooking alternative, that retains moisture and nutrients in your food for a result that is as delicious as it is nutritious. By introducing a combi-steam oven you can get an appliance that combines a conventional fan oven with a steam oven for a space-saving, efficient cooking set-up.
Smart Appliances
Interconnected, smart homes are more the norm than a sci-fi dream these days. Why not include your home appliances in this useful setup? From an oven that auto-adjusts cooking temperature and saves energy to a refrigerator that can tell you when you are out of eggs or when your milk is out of date, smart appliances make life easier. You can also include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and voice-controlled options to turn the oven on remotely.
Multi-zone Refrigerators
This trend in refrigeration from brands such as GE Café recognizes that your refrigeration needs may change from one week to the next. They allow for some adjustable compartments that let you change the temperature and humidity settings to add extra freezer space or to safely store fruit and vegetables, chill wine, and more.
Induction Cooking
Induction cooktops and ovens use electromagnetism to heat cookware and offer an excellent alternative to gas cooking. They now come in more sizes, better features, and more affordable price points than ever before. They are more energy efficient, and induction cooktops are sleek and incredibly easy to clean.
Energy Efficiency
In addition to adjustable refrigerators, responsive ovens, and induction cooking other appliance options are trending toward a focus on energy efficiency. For example, refrigerators that let you see the contents inside without opening the door reduce the loss of cold air. Newer appliance models are not only more efficient, but many are easier to recycle when they reach the end of their lifespan.
Professional or High-End Appliances
Professional-style appliances have long been popular as they give you that feeling of being a pro chef within your own home. This trend continues and also sees a focus on including more high-end appliances in kitchen designs. You use these kitchen tools daily so why not make life easier with models that give you what you need? This gives you the blend of functionality and style you need in the heart of your home. Many high-end appliances also include quiet features, making them less intrusive in daily life.
Ventilation Systems
Ventilation is essential in any kitchen design, as it keeps your space free from smoke and food odors. This can be even more important in an open-plan kitchen to prevent these smells from spreading throughout your first floor. Many of the latest models have a heat sensor to automatically turn on and off when required, change the fan level as needed, or turn off automatically after a set amount of time.
Location Trends
Undercounter Beverage Refrigerators
Refrigeration is about more than just keeping your milk and eggs fresh. These days, specialized refrigerators, located just where you need them, are ideal for keeping a ready supply of cold drinks for kids, guests, or you! Undercounter models fit neatly in a kitchen island, at the end of a wall of base cabinets, or in a beverage bar. Position them where they can be accessed by guests without crossing paths with the chef, which allows guests to get a refill while you prepare dinner.
Space Saving Options
While many opt for larger appliance models to handle a busy home with a kitchen that is used multiple times a day, this does not suit every household. If you are downsizing or are empty nesters who don’t cook big meals all the time, smaller, space-saving appliances may be a better choice. More of these compact models are appearing on the market, which features the same high-end cooking options or refrigeration but within a more compact area.
Built-in Appliances
Unlike freestanding appliances, built-in models are integrated with your kitchen cabinet layout and design. They typically sit flush with the cabinets and therefore do not interfere with the sleek lines of your kitchen design. They can also be paneled appliances that have a panel front to match your kitchen cabinets, creating a truly sleek style.
Double Up on Appliances
Busy homes mean your appliances are in constant use. One way to combat this is the current trend toward doubling up on key appliances. Whether this is two washers and two dryers in a larger laundry room, or one dishwasher in your kitchen and one in your butler’s pantry, there are many ways to include more than one appliance in a way that enhances your home’s efficiency without negatively affecting your style.
Range or Cooktop in the Island
While this has been around for a while, we are seeing a growing popularity of placing a range or cooktop in the kitchen island. It helps to maximize your available space, particularly if your perimeter countertop space is limited. This setup can help to create a more efficient layout with a central work triangle. It also allows you to cook while being part of the action in a kitchen/dining or open-plan first floor.
Style Trends
Matte Finishes
Colors for key appliances are becoming a bigger decision point in planning a kitchen remodel. Gone are the days when your only option is white or stainless steel. Matte finishes, particularly in darker colors like matte black, are gaining prominence in today’s kitchen designs. They look great and also hide grease splatters and water spots better than other options.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel has become a classic choice that never goes out of style. It fits any kitchen design aesthetic, and there are endless models in a wide range of price points available in stainless steel.
Colors for Appliances
On the other hand, there has been a rise in colorful appliance options if you want to use your refrigerator or range to add a pop of color to your kitchen design. These models have been seen at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in the last couple of years and are an ideal way to personalize a kitchen design if you are happy to commit to a color. There are also models, for example, ranges or cooktops, that feature knobs and handles in different metallic finishes that offer another way to bring color to a design.
Choosing the Ideal Appliances for Your Kitchen Design
You use most appliances regularly, and some get used more than once a day, so it pays to carefully consider the right options for your home. When planning a kitchen remodel, include your appliance selections in your kitchen design and layout planning. Choose models that fit your space, enhance your home’s efficiency, and make the kitchen a space where you can enjoy cooking for family and friends. Think also about how your appliances will fit into and enhance your room’s style, with the size, positioning, style, and finish. You will thank yourself when you find your appliances are an asset to your home life!
