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OCTOBER 2018 | 37 Kitchens But that's not the only colour trend happening in the kitchen world right now. On the opposite side of the spectrum, there's a growing interest in black and dark marble-looking designs. At the EuroCucina show this summer, dark earth tones and dark greys were popping up everywhere. "There's a lot of really interesting things happening internationally," says George Pavlov of Grass Canada. This reverse look is particularly sleek and sophisticated when paired with crisp white cabi- nets – a spinoff of the increasingly popular "mix and match style" for countertops and wall surfaces. "Homeowners are becoming adventurous and com- bining different designs, colours, and textures to make a statement," says Filomena. He also points to the rise in "risks," such as patterned backsplashes and bold quartz finishes. "Gone is the 'matchy-matchy' kitchen of the past where only a few materials were used," adds Chmiel. "Now consumers use sophisticated combinations for their countertops creating customized spaces that suit them and their family lifestyles. Consumers are using their kitchen countertops to define their spaces, being adventurous by mixing materials and adjusting heights for food preparation, dining or working on craft projects." In addition to crisp blacks and whites, wood accents are also hot for 2019. While butcher block has long been a staple countertop material, people are combining it with stone as a way to warm up and add a natural element to the space. "A wood island with quartz perimeter is an easy and often-used way to achieve this look," suggests Macdonald. M AT T E R O F F A C T As for finishes, Macdonald says that matte is popular right now. "This finish is smooth to the touch and is not reflective like a polished stone, but accepts and redis- tributes the light in the room," explains Macdonald. "This adds a lot of charm and a more natural look, which doesn't show scratches as easily as a polished surface." "There's not a lot of glass right now: instead, peo- ple want muted matte or velvety finishes," adds Pavlov. "Even the stones are not as stark as the white countertops of days past." Formica is one of many brands embracing this look. Its Formica Infiniti ColorCore2 laminate fea- tures a soft-to-the-touch super-matte finish that's fingerprint-resistant. It has antimicrobial surface protection and thermal healing capabilities with a matching coloured core that eliminates the brown edge typically seen with laminate. S T O R A G E S TA R S For many, it's preferable to have appliances and implements tucked away out of sight. "When it comes to cabinetry, we are seeing more people use quartz surfaces to hide appliances such as refrigerators in unique seamless cladding that allow for the design of the space to not be interrupted by breaks in the colour scheme," says Filomena. Customizable storage options allow homeown- ers to organize cutlery and tools in a versatile way. "People are looking for solutions to get organized, from foil dispensers to knife blocks," says Pavlov. He also notes the proliferation of more "furniture-like" pieces in the kitchen, with sideboards that use well- crafted hardware to meet storage needs in style. Ultimately, whatever cabinets, countertops or storage options they choose, clients really want a well put together kitchen that they can be proud of. "Given the scope, a kitchen renovation isn't some- thing that many people get to do multiple times in their lives and therefore there is a big element of building one's dream kitchen," concludes Macdonald. "At the end of the day I think that people want some- thing beautiful, functional, and that will stand the test of time." A Tavinea Sorto from Grass Canada. Midnorthern_Quarter.indd 1 2018-01-12 9:58 AM

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