2018 Kitchen Design Trends

2018 Kitchen Design Trends

While 2018 is well underway, here is our take on current 2018 trends. We’ve included some observations from our designers and friends about what’s new, what to watch, and what is trending.

Transitions: from Dark and Traditional to Light and Transitional

Setting the stage for 2018 is Gail Drury CMKBD, our studio’s creative director, “The dark Wenge finishes are going out and lighter finishes are coming in. Hand scraped looks with bleached ceruse finishes will become popular.

Light and soothing color palettes will be in. Traditional looks are going out and mid-century modern and more transitional looks will be all the rage in the new year”. This is a trend we have been seeing that last few years, and we see it continuing.

Kitchen Cabinets: Wood Wins Over White

Arch rivals white and wood are back at it and this time, wood is winning. White kitchens are pretty much like classics. They’ve always been around and they will always be around for people who like clean lines and pristine looks.

Yet, an all-white kitchen can be very sterile. Because people want to warm things up a bit, the all-white kitchen trend is definitely winding down.” If you still want the timelessness of white but want to mix it up a bit, think about adding an accent island, different colored lower cabinets or even a colorful backsplash to break up the all-white look. To learn more about the white vs. wood showdown, also read Painted Cabinets vs Stained Cabinets.

Kitchen Color of the Year? Ultra Violet or Oceanside

Hey, hey! It’s okay to use color! After so many years of neutrals, it’s exciting to see a return to color. And, if you love purple or blue, you’re in luck.

Pantone picks Ultra Violet as its 2018 color of the year and calls it, “a dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade, that communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us toward the future. Complex and contemplative, Ultra Violet suggests the mysteries of the cosmos, the intrigue of what lies ahead, and the discoveries beyond where we are now. The vast and limitless night sky is symbolic of what is possible and continues to inspire the desire to pursue a world beyond our own.”

Over at Sherwin Williams, Oceanside is the 2018 color of the year. Sherwin Williams describes the color, “Characterized as a collision of rich blue with jewel-toned green, it’s a color that is both accessible and elusive. A complex, deep color that offers a sense of the familiar with a hint of the unknown, Oceanside, bridges together a harmonious balance of blues and greens that can be found in what’s old and new.”

Remodeling for Resale in 2018

While you probably already know people buy houses based on the pictures they see online. Our friend, Baird and Warner realtor Carrie Morris says, “Think about how your color choices and finishes will photograph. Metallic tiles backsplashes in glossy finishes are popular right now, and they may shimmer and shine in real life. But, they may look terrible online.”

If you are considering moving within the next five years, you might want to approach your remodel differently. To learn more, also read 5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Remodeling Your Kitchen.

3D Home Design Drawings: The New Reality

3D Rendering

The reality is homeowners want to see the final outcome before embarking on a large-scale remodel. It can be hard to fully understand the end product when complicated decisions and structural changes are taking place. 3D drawings, or as design professional call them ‘renderings’, are a great tool that brings your project to life before even starting demolition.

Here at Drury Design, we use this technical tool as part of our Client-Focused Design™ process, and we predict this will become an industry standard expectation very soon. Want to learn more about our 3D design capabilities? Also, read Artistic 3D Drawings Bring Your Remodeling Ideas Home.

Technology: Making Your Kitchen a Smart Kitchen

There’s no hiding it, smart technology is taking off and it only makes sense to embrace it when redesigning your kitchen. Hidden docking stations for charging electronics, smart appliances that basically cook your food for you and of course digital assistants like Alexa and Google Home that help you with recipes in real time.

What’s another smart technology that we are installing more and more of? Specialized lighting systems. Lighting has always been important when it comes to entertaining or cooking, with specialized lighting systems you can set up different “scenes” that change on queue throughout the day and are completely customized. Worried about security? You can control your lights remotely from your phone or even set up a sensor that triggers your lights to turn on when you get close to arriving home – never walk into a dark house again!

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