Interior Design Trends for Kitchen Appliances

The kitchen is the heart of the home. It is the go-to gathering place for family, friends and guests. Particularly as the trend toward open kitchens shows no signs of slowing, beautiful kitchen design is crucial to the overall look and feel of your home. Appliances are a focal point of a kitchen and dated kitchen appliances make the whole home look dated.

When planning a new kitchen interior design or renovating a kitchen, most people think first about which cabinets or countertops to choose. But appliances should not be an afterthought. Think of the prominence they have in a kitchen - a set of inexpensive, white appliances sets a completely different tone than chef’s-quality commercial range. These are the latest trends when it comes to kitchen appliances. The good news about kitchen appliance trends? They’re slower to change than other trends in home design. So you can feel good about investing in high-end professional style appliances that can last for decades.

Smart appliances

Appliances have a mind of their own these days. Stoves have tablet-like displays that allow you to download recipes. They can be turned off and on via smartphone from the living room or while you’re shopping for groceries. Refrigerators can alert our smartphones when we’re out of milk of eggs. The future is here when it comes to appliance technology. Smart appliances make our lives easier and bring added convenience to the kitchen.

Hidden kitchen hoods

Modern technology makes it possible to hide your kitchen hood behind cabinetry, creating a sleeker look. This also offers the added benefit of additional storage space. A win all around.

Quiet dishwashers

There’s nothing like starting the dishwasher after dinner only to have it drown out the sound from the TV. Dishwasher manufacturers have long claimed that their appliances are quiet, but now those claims are finally accurate. High-end dishwashers make very little noise. You’ll barely know they’re running.

Double dishwashers

With these, there’s no such thing as hand washing. Double dishwashers allow you to separate pots and pans from finer, more delicate dishes. Having two dishwashers is also a smart and functional move for large families or people who like to entertain. There’s no need to wait for one load to finish before loading the dishwasher again.

Four-door refrigerators

There are two options with these appliances - two refrigerator doors and two freezer drawers or two French doors on the top and two sliding doors for the freezer. Either way, this design is functional. These refrigerators allow for better organization, and you can control the temperatures separately. You can keep some foods at 29 degrees and others up to 42 degrees.

Double ovens

These are nothing new, but they’re seeing something of a resurgence. Not surprisingly, they’re handy for times like Thanksgiving and Christmas when you need to cook multiple dishes at once. However, they’re also useful in everyday life. You can bake dinner and dessert all at once, not worrying about the variations in temperature.

Dishwasher drawers

These make for convenient loading and unloading. Rather than pulling out a cumbersome dishwasher door and bending down to load dishes, you can slide a door at waist height to load the dishes. Some people choose to place two dishwasher drawers on opposite sides of the sink.

Undercounter refrigerators

Rethink the traditional refrigerator. These are convenient and almost invisible. They look just like kitchen cabinets. Typically, these are set up as French drawers underneath the cabinets. Like four-door refrigerators, they allow you to set separate temperatures.

Jessica Dauray Interiors is a full-service, residential and commercial interior design firm with offices in Greensboro and Wilmington, North Carolina. JDI founder Jessica Dauray and her design team specialize in custom interior design, as well as renovation and new home construction project consulting and management. JDI's unique interiors can best be described as livable and sophisticated. The designs incorporate classic, clean lines with function to fit your family's lifestyle and design aesthetic. JDI's projects include residences and corporate interiors throughout the New York Metropolitan area.

Kitchen and Bath Tile That Won't Go Out Of Style Quickly

Kitchens and bathrooms are the most expensive rooms of the home to remodel.  You want the spaces to look fresh and modern, but you don’t want to choose materials that are too trendy and will go out of style. Some design trends, like granite counters and eco-friendly appliances, have staying power, while others are hot for a few years and then fall out of fashion. Kitchen and bath tile are one of the telltale signs of age in a kitchen or bathroom. Picture the bright pink and blue tiles of the 1960s or the ornatly patterned tiles of the 1980s. The make a home feel dated. To avoid regretting your decision in a couple years, follow these tips for choosing tile that won’t go out of style. 

Play it safe with neutrals

While you don’t want the kitchen or bathroom to look drab, colorful and bold tiles - while trendy - are a risk. If you tire of the color in a few years or the shade goes out of style, you’ll have to either live with the tile or rip it out and start again. If you’re craving a pop of color, consider incorporating a row of accent tiles in the bathroom or using a colorful backsplash in the kitchen. Or, you can introduce color with paint or accessories instead. Generally, it is best to avoid tiling your entire kitchen or bathroom in a bold color.

Consider white subway tiles

Subway tiles have been popular in bathroom and kitchen design for nearly a century. They are neutral and classic, but they also have character. Subway tiles are also easy to clean, which is imperative for kitchens and bathrooms.

If you choose a pattern, keep it classic

Patterned tile is far more likely to look dated in a few years than plain tile. However, that is not to say that you can’t choose a pattern if that’s what you like. They key is to find a pattern that is subtle, classic and understated. Think a subtle geometric pattern in a neutral shade such as light gray.

Avoid anything too new

Any style that is brand new can be a risk. There’s a balance here, naturally, because you want to design a space that looks fresh and modern. But it’s unwise to jump on the latest trend without knowing if it has staying power. Be wary of any tile trend that is brand new to the market or different from anything you’ve seen before. Sometimes these tiles are in vogue for just a season or two, then fall out of fashion. When in doubt, consult an interior designer to ask for an opinion on the whether the tile will look dated in a few years.

Consider natural stone

Natural stone has proved its staying power. No other material has survived the test of time so well. If you’re looking for a safe choice that is also beautiful, natural stone, granite or marble is an excellent choice. You won’t regret the choice five or 10 years down the road.

Choose dark tiles

Dark tiles in shades of black, gray or brown are in fashion, and this is a trend that doesn’t appear to be going anywhere. Darker tiles look fresh and unexpected, but they’re still classic in style because they are neutrals. Tread lightly with dark tiles, however. You don’t want to cover the entire bathroom in dark tiles - perhaps just one area such as the shower. And if your bathroom is very small, it is probably wise to avoid them altogether.

Jessica Dauray Interiors is a full-service, residential and commercial interior design firm with offices in Greensboro and Wilmington, North Carolina. Founder, Jessica Dauray and her design team specialize in custom interior design, as well as renovation and new home construction project consulting and management. JDI' unique interiors can best be described as livable and sophisticated. The designs incorporate classic, clean lines that function to fit your family's lifestyle and design aesthetic. JDI's projects include residences and corporate interiors throughout the New York Metropolitan area.