Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/734400
OCTOBER 2016 | 43 Kitchens W Kitchen designs for 2017 will make the most of the heart of the home by STACEY MCLACHLAN Whether it's a new build or renovation, a dream home always starts with the kitchen. After all, it's often the centre of our lives, the gathering place and hub of activity – in our open-concept, wireless world, it's often more than just a place to cook or eat. The hot- test kitchen trends celebrate these increasingly multi-functional spaces, incorporating cozy palettes, high-tech materials and smart functionality for the busiest of families. As kitchens are increasingly combined with the main living space as modern, open-concept designs become more popular, designers are working to hide integrated appliances to keep the look of the space cohesive. Clean lines remain a hot trend for 2017 in the kitchen, as fuss-free cabinets with little detail and sim- ple profiling continue in popularity. "It gives a cleaner, lighter feel to the space and makes the kitchen feel more modern, airy and minimalistic," says Stephanie Pierce, director of design and trends at MasterBrand Cabinets. Even for those who don't have the budget for a full- fledged renovation, the open-concept look can be mim- icked with light paints or stains. "It goes a long way in making the space feel more open and inviting," adds Pierce, "even if you don't have expansive square foot- age to match the feel of a larger kitchen." But looks aren't the key focus of the ever-evolving cabinetry industry. New functionality in kitchen cabi- nets is also on the rise. Joe Capone, VP of sales and mar- keting for Cartier Kitchens, points to manufacturers like Blum, who are reinventing the way we think about drawers and doors. "Flip-up doors and pocket doors with touch-latch features provide simplicity and func- tionality, which seems to be at the top of the shopping list," he says. Multi-tiered drawers, hidden behind one sleek cabinet door, are another great improvement. Homeowners are looking for more organization and better use of space, and products with minimal- ist designs and smart storage fit the bill, says Frank Sansalone, product specialist for Blum Canada. "The current trend is to design wider drawers, more draw- ers in base cabinets and handle-free solutions." Pierce, meanwhile, points to a shift in kitchen storage from general space to specific functional- ity. "Drawers and pullouts are still great solutions for accessibility," she says. "But more solutions that spe- cifically meet demands of individual lifestyles are on the rise." MasterBrand's new base utensil knife block pullout and base pantry container organizer are two popular products specifically designed to house com- monly used objects. These specialty designs aren't always about meal prep – smart kitchen design today addresses the room's multi-functionality, incorporating hidden areas for charging and storing iPhones and tablets, worksta- tions for laptops, and space for smart appliances. Along with a demand for customization, though, is the desire for a quick turnaround. "There is a focus on precision-made cabinetry crafted more quickly," says Julie Johnstone, corporate designer for Merit Kitchens. "Making cabinetr y more quick ly of ten implies lowering the standard for quality." Luckily, technolog- ical developments in production methods and mechan- ics mean that quality doesn't have to be sacrificed for speed. "Newer machinery that quickens the process and heightens quality is in demand," says Johnstone. While the five-piece painted wood door has been the industry standard for years, one-piece MDF doors now offer a sleek alternative – and are available in a wide-variety of solid painted colours. "The one- piece MDF door provides a fresh clean look," explains Capone. "I do see a shift from the traditional-looking door styles to laminated slab doors, in a wide variety of colours and wood textures," says Capone. He notes that this style is particularly popular in high-rises and condo projects. Particularly for big, multi-residential projects like this, that's a good thing – these laminated and thermofoil styles are an eco-friendly choice. Pierce has also noticed an increasing demand for laminate door styles, which offer durability and sus- tainability that traditionally stained or painted wood products simply cannot. Even in the last five years, the technology behind laminate has advanced in leaps and bounds. Not only are they a more stable product in changing climates, esthetically they look almost iden- tical to traditional wood cabinetry. "Although all of our wood products are responsibly harvested, lami- nate products have advanced their technology to print more expensive and desirable species with embossing that is in sync with the grain giving it a more authentic look and feel," she explains. What's Cooking? Textured wood laminate and Thermofoil from Merit Kitchens.