Colorful appliances
Image courtesy of True Residential
Appliances are slowly but surely becoming the star of the kitchen. This shift makes sense when you consider how much real estate they take up and the investment they represent. One of our favorite ways to infuse a kitchen with personality and color is to choose colorful, impactful freestanding appliances. And it seems the home industry's most innovative brands appreciate this approach.
Take True Residential, the premium home refrigerator brand. All of the company's kitchen appliances tend to grab attention (even big-time mom Kris Jenner uses the brand's standout refrigerators in her enormous cooking space). But it's True Residential's vibrant kitchen essentials that make heads turn. For example, its sherbet-colored, two-door refrigeration unit was a highlight of the 2024 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show.
“Customers and designers are in a relationship,” says Chelsea Beaute, brand manager at a family-owned home appliance manufacturer. [are] They chose to make home appliances the main focus. [and complementing] Colorful furniture works well when paired with softer cabinetry, paint colors, and other fixtures.” Similarly, if you opt for brightly colored appliances, try keeping other accents in your cooking space in softer or muted colors. “This can help create a bold pop in an unexpected, yet sophisticated way,” she says.
Retro Accents
Image courtesy of Forbes Home
If a kitchen with rainbow accents appeals to you, you might also love prep spaces that feature retro touches and accents that pay homage to vintage style. These spaces are layered, interesting, and full of character. Need more reasons to go retro in your kitchen this year? Walsh believes that adding antique pieces not only gives “design-minded clients access to great pieces that are full of history and character,” but it's also sustainable. Even if true vintage pieces aren't your thing, there are still ways to achieve the look.
For example, brands like Elmira Cookstoves and SMEG sell ovens, refrigerators, countertop appliances, and more that combine the aesthetic of a vintage kitchen with 21st-century modernity and technological advancements. If you want to create a nostalgic feel, try incorporating some unexpected red appliances and accents into your kitchen.
A mix of styles
Image courtesy of Moen
Your home and kitchen don't have to be limited to one design style. In fact, incorporating multiple aesthetics can enhance the beauty of your space without hiring a professional interior designer. Customized cooking spaces are becoming more and more popular, and kitchens are becoming a dream come true, regardless of trends. They're a trend in themselves.
Danielle DeBoe Harper, senior creative style manager at Moen, says one of her favorite ways to make a big impact in a kitchen is to “mix and match different styles to create a unique design that allows homeowners to express their personal tastes and lifestyle.”
Looking to easily mix styles in your kitchen? Harper suggests, “Turn towards more transitional appliances and blend traditional with contemporary pieces for a clean, comfortable, contemporary look.” [or even finding] Traditional fixtures and décor are mixed with a bolder colour palette to make the space feel more modern and eclectic.”
Because the kitchen is often the hub of the home, Harper says it doesn't hurt to add a little glamour to your space. “Choosing stand-out pieces, like bold finishes and tall faucets, are a great way to make a big impact on your style,” says Harper. In this eclectic kitchen by Moen, the brand's Smyth faucet combines vintage and modern accents with a brass hue.
Integrated Features
Getty Images
Well-designed kitchens come in all shapes and sizes, but many of them share a common trait: they look good and look even better. Form follows function. One way to make a kitchen look appealing and functional is to incorporate appliances that blend into the background.
Valentina Bertazzoni, style and communications director at Italian kitchen appliance manufacturer Bertazzoni, points out that this trend also works in small spaces: “We are seeing an increase in compact kitchen spaces that lend themselves to integrated styles like stacked kitchens,” she says. [appliance] These additions make the kitchen feel larger and give it a “custom style,” according to Bertazzoni. [and] “It reduces the level of visual noise while potentially creating an air of elegance.”
For example, if you don't want your refrigerator to be visible, our design experts can help you hide it behind doors that perfectly match your existing cabinets.Looking for another way to make your kitchen incredibly customizable and uniquely yours? Opt for an integrated dishwasher that's hidden in plain sight, or an appliance garage that hides all of your smaller countertop appliances, like your coffee maker, air fryer, or blender.
Moments of Interest
Images by Virginia Toledo and Jacob Snavely.
Some homeowners may have an unlimited budget for remodeling their kitchen. Still, even those on a budget can create a wow moment by highlighting just one particular element of their cooking space. This is another trend we're seeing. Picking one element as the centerpiece creates an intentional look without overspending. This dream kitchen, designed by Virginia Toledo of New York Design Center and photographed by Jacob Snavely, has a lot to offer. The sculptural chandelier above the oval dining table stands out, as does the fun pink-and-green color mix of the dining and counter chairs. But the kitchen floor is undeniably the eye-catcher.
Pro tip for making a big impact in your kitchen? Toledo suggests, “Pick one strong element in the room.” [will play] “It takes center stage and invests design and financial resources into making it stand out.” For this space, her team “created a custom pattern of mixed marble” for a unique look that would suit almost any style of kitchen.
Conclusion
As we enter a new season of home renovations, kitchens are becoming more functional, more customized, and more daring. Although minimalist, all-white rooms still have a place in the design world (a trend that never completely fades away), kitchen designers and homeowners are experimenting more. People are no longer willing to sacrifice their unique taste for subdued décor, and the end result of this slow transformation is a colorful one.
Make kitchen design fun again. If you're ready to embrace change, start small. Start by injecting a little vibrancy with a colorful electric kettle. If you're worried about staying on budget, you can do the opposite: add wallpaper to your kitchen backsplash, invest in an eye-catching custom faucet and sink combination, and replace your tiles with something flashy and eclectic. You deserve to have a kitchen that feels like you.
