Going Modern

Today’s High Tech Trends in Kitchen Remodeling

by bryAn henson

The Kitchen has unquestionably become the heart of the modern home, especially around the holidays when friends and family gather. Kitchens have evolved from just a purely functional place, to a room where some of the most recent advances in home technology are being used. If you’d like to welcome family and friends into a modernized kitchen by next holiday season, the time to start planning and designing is now. Even if you aren’t in the market for a complete remodel, one or two high-end or technological updates can bring your kitchen into the 21st century.

Lighting is one of the most integral pieces of any design puzzle, because it needs to be functional and beautiful. This is especially true in the kitchen, which are typically under lit. Energy efficient LEDs, previously shied away from in home upgrades due to the “cold” light they cast and limited design selection, are now available in a much warmer spectra and more diverse range of styles. In the kitchen, plan your lighting in three levels – ambient, task, and feature. Simple lighting controls such as Lutron enable you to custom program different lighting combinations, which set your lighting to preset levels.

More efficient storage and structure is one of the key reasons to update your kitchen. In fact, we find that we can typically achieve double the usable storage in the same size kitchen from before and after a remodel. Dead corners are things of the past, as glides, vertical storage, and deeper drawers with organizers help maximize cabinet space. While work triangles used to be the norm in kitchens—for instance, fridge, sink, and stove—now we design for “zones” such as homework zones, baking zones, cooking zones, so that the kitchen can be opened up and converged with the home’s primary living space.

Engineered stone and 3D tile are both beautiful and functional, and come in a vast range of colors, textures, and patterns—far greater than those available in the past. The true beauty, however, is in their durability and low maintenance. Strong, contrasting designs are being replaced with more texture-on-texture designs, which blend similar textures in different patterns throughout the kitchen. Combining materials is also trending – think engineered stone countertops at the perimeter, coupled with a butcher-block or marble countertop on the island. A mix of materials can create impact and bring more personality to the space.

The kitchen of the future embraces automation. This includes sensor activated lighting that turns on when the room is in use, hands free faucets which turn on and off with motion sense, thermometers connected to your smart phone to text alert you when dinner is done, even ovens that turn on in time for the family to arrive home to a hot meal.

In summary, high end trends of today fit into any design aesthetic and work towards the same goal; a kitchen that is not only beautiful in any architectural style but convenient and meets the needs of all of its users. Allen Construction is a local expert on high end kitchens and can consult on and construct the kitchen of your dreams. Give our team of experts a call at 805.884.8777.

An elegant mix of material to provide a modern, sleek look while maintaing a warm feel. The island is composed of white lacquer cabinets and a stainless-steel countertop. The other cabinets are composed of a soft gray wood grain laminate veneer, with stainless steel profiles. This kitchen features smart accessories to enhance the functionality. Every lower drawer is lit with motion-sensor LED lighting.

For more info go to Reed Interiors, www.reed-interiors.com. 805-684-7583.

Spaces