Featured: Hinkley Clarendon Foyer Pendant

According to 2016 Design Trends Survey, outdoor kitchens, built-in coffee stations, and pet-friendly amenities are among the most popular trends taking hold and powering the future of kitchen construction.

Need some ideas to make your kitchen more functional, fashionable and dream-worthy?  Take a look at our favorite trends that will keep the “heart of the home” pumping into the next decade.

Top Kitchen Design Trends for 2016

 Featured: Kichler Ashland Bay Outdoor Hanging Lantern 

Outdoor Eat-ins!

The trend to extend living space to the outdoor environment continues.

According to the American Home Furnishings Alliance’s Outdoor Furniture Trend Report, more than 80 percent of American households planned a purchase in the outdoor living category last year.

And, the National Kitchen & Bath Association 2016 Design Trends Survey indicated that about half of member respondents plan to build outdoor kitchens in 2016.

Featured: Murray Feiss Audrie Energy Smart Pendant

Transitional Style with a strong pull in the contemporary direction will be favored.  We will continue to see kitchen updates showcasing industrial and farmhouse accents, as well.

Wood Flooring, rustic tables and custom cabinetry are major upgrades and feature as rich and robust elements.  

High Tech Appliances Ovens with built in steamers and warming drawers, refrigerators with air purification systems, and hands-free faucets are some of the coveted new amenities.

Wet Bars and Wine Refrigerators are becoming more commonplace as 74 percent of respondents said they would be including them in their kitchen design.

Eco-friendly Materials: Recycled countertops and tabletop surfaces, formaldehyde-free cabinets, a cabinet hamper for kitchen towels (instead of paper towels), and trash pullouts with multiple recycling bins are leading improvements to healthy kitchen design.

Clean Organic. Gray, white and off-white hues lead the color mix in the cool new kitchen.

Super Storage Options–Hydraulic, easy-to-close pullouts, tilt-ins, and fold-ups for cabinet doors and appliances are fabulous new storage options.  Pantry closets and refrigerator panels with a custom French door design are also very popular.

Pet-friendly Amenities:  With half of respondents saying “yes” to a pet-friendly kitchen, special pull-outs for pet food and toys and designated feeding stations prove that animal-lovers mean serious business.

LEDs all the way!  LED lighting will continue to power illumination into the next decade.

LEDs are especially suitable for kitchen lighting:

• They keep the environment cool
• They lower energy consumption and maintenance costs
• They mesh with Smart Home Technology
• And, the LED kitchen lighting selection is magnificent!

What trends do you think should stay and which ones should go?