The kitchen design trends that we expect to see at Concept Interiors in 2018.

• News
• November 18, 2017

Many years ago, the kitchen was hidden in the back of the house. It was a place where meals were prepared and dirty dishes were washed and gathered. Fast forward to 2017 and the kitchen has a much different role. Today, the kitchen is the focal point of the home, the place that brings everyone together after a long day or at the start of one. Now instead, the kitchen is paraded in all its beauty and warmth at the very centre of the house.

Kitchens have changed a lot over the decades and planning for your new kitchen layout is very important. Technology advances and changing social dynamics have contributed greatly to the rise of the modern kitchen. There is a far bigger focus on open concept homes that revolve around the kitchen so everyone can be together. As with any modern design trend, clean and simple styles have become favourites for homeowners with natural light becoming an essential aspect of the overall look and function of the kitchen space.

Here are the top 10 trends in kitchen design that we expect to see in 2018.

Stylishly Smart Kitchens

Over recent years we have notice that technology has entered the kitchen in full force and not just in the form of fancy gadgets and appliances. Today, you can have a kitchen with technology integrated into every function and appliance–from the taps to the fridge to the lighting. At Concept Interiors, this is what we call a smart kitchen.

Smart kitchens are a very modern aspect of design. In fact, a lot of kitchens today are built smart from the ground up. You can have sensor-equipped kitchen taps that can sense the presence of hands underneath and will come on automatically. You could have a fridge that alerts you when your grocery items are running low or a coffee machine that has your coffee ready when you wake up. Do not forget to smarten up your lighting system, allowing you to control different lights from your smartphone or tablet.

Technology integrated kitchens are becoming more popular as homeowners experiment with novel technologies. This is one of the biggest trends going into 2018.

Cabinet Colours: White & light greys stay and the introduction of darker tones

White is still a big favourite for kitchen cabinets amongst our customers in Sheffield. Homeowners love it for its clean look, which is especially beneficial in a space that tends to get cluttered. White cabinets are simply beautiful and timeless and can be used in almost any kind of kitchen style. We expect white to remain a popular cabinet colour in 2018 and probably for many years to come. The only real change we are seeing is a mixing in of wood finishes for accent pieces and additions of pops-of-colour for the brave of heart.

As popular as white cabinets are, in 2017, we started to notice that grey was really starting to pick up as the colour of choice. Grey cabinets project a certain chic elegance. If you want your kitchen to feel a bit more luxurious, grey is the colour to choose. Grey cabinets work particularly well when paired with plenty of natural light.

White and grey continue to be the two big cabinet colours as we approach 2018. Their modern clean look will keep them as favourites for years to come. But the darker grey tones and even black is slowly making its way into the kitchen. It will surprise you at how well dark coloured kitchen cabinets can work, particularly when combined with contrasting lighter colours.

Dark kitchen cabinets portray full-on elegance and a deep rich luxurious atmosphere that the other options just don’t offer. They cast the kitchen in a subtle dramatic essence. However, using dark tones in the kitchen is a tricky thing. You have to be careful that it does not overpower the room, making it feel perpetually dark. But more and more homeowners are getting bolder and opting for a kitchen with dark cabinets and we believe this trend will grow as we enter into 2018.

Contemporary designs, materials & textures

While styles like vintage and mid-century modern are still popular, homeowners are getting more contemporary with edgier designs and alternative materials for kitchens. Instead of the usual ceramic, we are seeing an increased use of concrete and stone. Concrete is being introduced into the worktops of our kitchen as an element that brings many practical advantages. The concrete offers a high resistance to heat and scratching, which makes it a perfect material for cooking. Besides giving a very industrial and modern touch to the kitchen.

Folding and sliding doors are being set up to be operated with a button or from your smartphone or tablet. These innovative new door designs are even being transferred to the cabinetry. You can actually have folding or sliding cabinet doors too.

Countertops and kitchen islands are also experiencing their own contemporary reinvention. Some homeowners are going for curved kitchen islands for a unique focal point. This lends itself to softening the lines within the space. In some homes, the kitchen island also serves as the bar and includes wine storage for the adults.

Quartz is still the number 1 choice

For high end kitchen countertops, quartz still reigns supreme. The material is extremely hardy, can last virtually forever, is a breeze to maintain and is anti-microbial. Granite, the main competitor in the high-end bracket, requires slightly more maintenance.

When quartz countertops first came into the market, the main worry was lack of variety in terms of colours and finishes. But with time, thanks to technology, manufacturers have provided a wide range of colours to choose from as well as realistic stone patterns. You can even get quartz finished with elaborate swirls and large veining to imitate other materials like natural stone and marble. These unique styles have become immensely popular.

But there is a notable trend toward softer and more neutral colours. More and more homeowners are opting for colours like grey, taupe, creamy or white finishes. Whilst we are on the topic of countertops, it is important to mention the rising popularity of composite and built in sinks. These are sinks made from the same material as the countertop. This creates a cleaner uniform look and makes cleaning and maintenance much easier.

Appliances: New Styles

If the kitchen is going to face a revolution, the appliances will not be left behind. One of the hottest trends we are seeing for 2018 is black stainless steel appliances. Stainless Steel appliances have dominated the market for quite some time, so seeing a different finish come into play is not surprising.

Even the interest in must-have commercial ranges seems to be fading somewhat. More and more kitchens want to include cook-tops with separate integrated ovens. We are starting to see that more homeowners are wanting a changeover from the more common commercial range look.

Changes are also happening to the range hood. Traditionally, we see large chimney style range hoods over the range. Though it plays a major role in sucking up fumes, grease and odors, it does not earn many points for style. To change this, homeowners are opting for new ceiling mounted range hoods and integrated vented hobs which actually extract within themselves. They take up less space and are sleeker looking. Don’t forget to consider advanced range hoods that can be flush mounted for a discreet appearance.

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Large Multipurpose Kitchen Islands

Kitchen islands are no longer those narrow surfaces just for food preparation or to serve as an occasional breakfast bar. They have become focal points of the kitchen. One of the changes emerging is the larger sizing and more ornate design pieces included in the design. The kitchen island is meant to create an impact, and its design must make a statement.

The 2018 larger kitchen islands will become jack of all trades. They will have storage cabinets and be fitted with various cooking appliances while also serving as a dining area. To accommodate the increased size, we are seeing a tendency for the kitchen island to extend into living room territory in homes with open plan designs. This ensures the kitchen island can be multi-functional without cluttering up space in the kitchen.

Let these upcoming trends serve as design ideas for your 2018 kitchen renovation or new home construction. These ideas combine the best in functionality and aesthetics to create the ultimate kitchen.