Tag Archives: Kitchen Trends

Hot Kitchen Trends for 2015

The hot kitchen trends this year are all about improving the user experience and increasing the value of your home. The National Kitchen and Bath Association has published its trend report Hot Kitchen Trends for 2015for 2015, and the most popular kitchen color schemes are white, gray, black, blue and green, and the styles are contemporary and clean. Bronze, red and terra cotta are out, as are Tuscan and country or rustic design themes. But beyond color, the top trends are all about storage solutions and, of course, the appliances.

Multiple Appliances

Designers understand that many families, especially large families and those who enjoy entertaining at home, struggle with appliance capacity. Consequently, they’re working multiples into today’s kitchen designs. Dual dishwashers are the most popular, especially the new drawer-style models. Multiple ovens are also popular, with some architects incorporating a set of wall ovens along with 60-inch professional stoves. Finally, people are bringing the secondary fridge in from the garage and adding wine and beer coolers or specialty produce refrigerators to the kitchen.

Open Shelving and Furniture-Style Cabinetry

In lieu of upper cabinets, designers are using open shelving. It opens up the kitchen and creates a more modern look. Although people tend to shy away from open shelving, you can find a way to showcase your beautiful china and glassware and stow the less aesthetic items in closed cabinets below. Islands and wet bars are being styled to resemble furniture rather than traditional cabinetry. Drawer base cabinets are increasing in popularity as well. Drawers offer more flexible and efficient storage with less wasted space than cabinets with fixed shelving.

“Intelligent” Steam Ovens

The first new oven technology since convection and dual-fuel took the world by storm a decade ago, steam ovens are popular for the versatility they offer the home chef. Combine steam and convection with digital technology, and you’re on the cutting edge of appliance trends. Eliminating the age-old problem of dried out food, steam ovens combine heat, moisture and air to produce perfectly cooked food. Steam ovens preserve food’s nutrients too, with some reports showing 22 percent more in foods prepared with steam ovens as compared to traditional ovens.

Flexible Pantry Storage

Everybody wants storage, and lots of it, but no two people have the same kitchen storage needs. The adoption of flexible pantries and other storage space means that all of your small appliances, food and equipment has a home, but when you’re ready to sell your home, your buyers will enjoy the same benefit. If space allows, designers are incorporating prep surfaces, bar sinks and electrical outlets as well as windows for natural lighting. Sliding barn-style doors allow you the choice to shut the pantry off or open it up to your kitchen space.

Complete Appliance Repair, serving Salt Lake City and the surrounding communities, understands that you want the best kitchen your budget can provide. Their experienced professionals will work with you to select and install your new appliances and help you make today’s hottest kitchen trends a reality in your home.

Double-Stacked Wall Ovens

Wall ovens were all the rage during the 1950s and 60s, but fell out of favor in the latter part of the 20th century. They have begun to regain popularity, however, and for good reason — you Double Stacked Wall Ovenmay want or need the flexibility of a double-stacked wall oven or some alternate configuration thereof. These appliances also have some drawbacks, which you can evaluate based on your needs and available space. Depending on your cooking needs, you may also consider adding a warming drawer to your kitchen.

Why Wall Ovens are Gaining Popularity

One of the reasons people love wall ovens is that they put your food at eye level while it cooks. Likewise, you don’t have to bend over to haul heavy pans out like you do with a range oven. If you cook together with friends or family members, there is no need to fight for space around the ovens and cooktop. The most obvious attraction is having a second oven, something that many large families and burgeoning chefs require. Even if you don’t need two traditional ovens, you can purchase wall-mounted oven-and-microwave combos, freeing up counter space and eliminating the need to have a microwave/range hood combo.

The Downside of Wall Ovens

Cost is definitely a consideration when weighing this choice. A standard slide-in range is less expensive than a cooktop and double oven, but high-end ranges can easily compete in cost. The other complication is installation and cabinet configuration. If you don’t currently have a wall oven, cabinet modifications will be required. If you plan to replace your cabinets anyway, the cost will be approximately the same whichever way you go. If you need to remodel your existing cabinets to accommodate wall ovens, however, you may run into added expense and potentially have trouble matching the old cabinetry.

Consider a Warming Drawer

Many home cooks want a second oven because they use it for keeping food warm or for warming dishware. If that’s true in your case, consider adding a warming drawer (or two) instead of a second oven. This holdover from the past is also making a huge comeback in modern American kitchens. Some models offer a wide range of temperature settings, allowing the warmer to do double duty as a low-and-slow cooking appliance. Warmers are also available with convection, which is highly effective at keeping food warm for hours without drying it out. Warming drawers hold food at a sufficient temperature to prevent bacterial growth without overcooking, which is often difficult to achieve with your oven.

In Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas, Complete Appliance Repair offers appliance sales, installation and service as well as HVAC services. Contact them today for advice and an estimate on adding wall ovens to your kitchen.