As the focal point of the room and the one that establishes the general aesthetic of the kitchen, cabinets are frequently the basis of kitchen design. Homeowners are broadening their design palettes and embracing a range of hues, materials, and textures that elevate a cabinet's presence from stage setting to main attraction after more than ten years of falling in love with white cabinets.

Gray was a logical step up from white to give cabinets a little personality, but today's hues go beyond the safe neutrals; blues and greens are frequently used. Additionally, wood tones are beginning to reappear in the room as a result of people's growing interest in organic designs and natural materials.

Some of the trends being seen right now in kitchen cabinets include:

• Texture continues to garner interest, with homeowners looking for surfaces that not only add interest but beg to be touched.
• Pale and medium woods are leading the return-to-wood trend, with natural stains and surfaces delivering an earthy appeal.
• The traditional shaker door style is giving way to a more modern shaker, as well as flat panel, contemporary looks.
• Painted styles are venturing past the white tones and neutrals and embracing a more colorful selection in keeping with the personalization of spaces, with ranges of blues, greens, blacks and even corals and reds bubbling to the surface.
• Unexpected surfaces, such as stone and metal, are making dramatic statements with regard to cabinetry, especially in more modern designs.
• Two-tone cabinets remain a popular trend, though design styles are venturing away from white with a contrasting dark paint and more toward a painted cabinet paired with a wood finish.

Focus on Kitchen Islands

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania - In an annual report on significant design trends, the National Kitchen & Bath Association states that there is a greater emphasis on "hard-working" kitchen islands that function as gathering places, storage areas, cooking spaces, prep areas, and entertaining spaces.

This week, the NKBA released its annual Kitchen Trends Report for 2024, which highlights the top trends in kitchen design that are expected to emerge over the following three years. These trends include changes in products, color, materials, and space.

The NKBA "Kitchen Design Trends Summit" was held at GE's CoCREATE facility and collaborative space in Stamford, CT, and the study was released concurrently.

The report's findings show that, among polled designers, over 57% believe their clients would rather have an eat-in kitchen space than a formal dining room, and 48% rank large islands as the most important feature for dining and serving. Additionally, designers are making the kitchen more functional for everything from working and learning to entertaining and eating by getting rid of noisy appliances and slamming cabinet doors. According to the NKBA, 65 percent of the designers surveyed stated that their customers prefer dishwashers that are extremely quiet, and 41% of them are switching from loud trash compactors to regular pull-out bins.

Among the other leading takeaways from the report:

Environmentally Conscious. One of the report's key conclusions is to be environmentally conscious. Both designers and homeowners continue to prioritize sustainability, emphasizing the use of long-lasting products to minimize replacement needs, recycling old cabinets and appliances, allocating kitchen storage for recycling, and building kitchen storage for composting.

Well-Curated Lighting. Designers report using multiple layers of lighting to support different functions in addition to using an abundance of natural light in their kitchen designs. These layers include ambient lighting, which is used to create different moods (85%), decorative statement lighting, which is used to showcase design elements (80%), and nighttime lighting, which is used for safety and aesthetics (69%).  The NKBA discovered that features including voice activation, motion detection, light and motion sensors, and customizable control options are essential to improving kitchen lighting functionality.

A Place for Wellness and Nutrition. Healthy eating and nutrition are the main priorities of kitchen design. According to 78% of designers, homeowners desire appliances with integrated culinary features like air fryers and steam cookers, and they also want additional fridge space with greater flexibility to support healthier lives.

Bathroom Vanities

Vanities are adding a little extra design flare to the newest bathroom spaces, much as cabinets are updating the colors, finishes, and styles of today's kitchens. Styles with doors, drawers, and shelves that offer various storage possibilities range from freestanding furniture pieces to wall-mounted floating units.

Petite vanity variants are now making a statement in even the smallest bath rooms, while vanity sizes are also changing. For homeowners, storage is essential; thus, having areas inside for toiletries and towels is essential.

Elements trending right now in bath vanities include:

• Dividers and customizable interiors allow users to create spaces for their particular storage needs.
• Reeded fronts and a range of other design details add a wow factor to otherwise standard looks.
• Interior lighting and integrated electrical outlets allow homeowners to see contents and keep small appliances plugged in and ready to use.
• Natural and nature-inspired materials and finishes are in high demand, including reclaimed woods and stone fronts.
• There is a growing demand for compact units that can be tucked into powder rooms and corners, providing even the smallest spaces with added storage.
• Countertop storage towers are becoming a popular option for adding storage space, especially when linen storage is limited.
  

Source: Kitchen & Bath Design read the complete article and learn more at the below links.

Kitchen Cabinets - HERE

Kitchen Islands - HERE

Bathroom Storage - HERE