The kitchen is truly the heart of the home. Today this is truer than ever, especially since most people have spent more time over the past two years living, working, and playing at home. The kitchen is the gathering place for the family and now again friends and guests as well. This space is more than just a functional place in the home – it’s command central, especially during the holiday season. We’ve asked Charleston-based Tish Mills of Tish Mills Interiors to share her best tips for how to best design a kitchen in 2022.
One of the biggest trends we can expect to see is that the open kitchen concept is now segueing to less of an open space. Many new-builds and renovations are including a way to delineate the space or even close it off, so that the kitchen is its own room, giving the chef in your life the opportunity to connect as much or as little as wanted while preparing a meal. Being at home during the pandemic brought back the idea of needing individual spaces rather than one big open space, and the kitchen is certainly no exception.
From a design perspective, we are seeing that new kitchens are taking their cue from a maximalism design approach. Their role is more than just function, the space is a part of the overall design aesthetic of the home. Bright white kitchens will always be classic, so have no fear that you need to rip out your white cabinets, however they are not trending in most new kitchen designs. Rich woods like walnut and oak are coming to the forefront, along with bold color for either an entire kitchen or accent areas like islands and bars.
A butler’s pantry or just a spacious pantry is a consistent request nowadays. These spaces allow for less or no upper cabinets, giving the kitchen more of a designed room look and less of a traditional kitchen feel. Many small or secondary appliances are being moved to hidden areas to keep kitchens looking pristine.
Mixing design materials is key when it comes to how the kitchen is pulled together. Think of beautiful types of wood, natural stones, even plaster and concrete. Metals are aesthetically appealing on stove hoods, door fronts and even fixtures. Designers are now using more of a rich range of bronze finishes, rather than shiny finishes that were used in the past. Simple, solid surfaced countertops are now being replaced by bold colors and Quartzite countertops are also trending. A comprehensive color scheme could be inspired from these stones and can set the tone in individual spaces, such as the backsplash in a kitchen.
The design of a kitchen greatly influences home buyers when you are looking to sell your home. Discuss the best ways to enhance the design of your kitchen with a designer like Tish Mills and a knowledgeable real estate firm like William Means.
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