There have been three big kitchen trends in 2021 and I believe they are going to roll right into 2022 with some added new ones. The three trends that I think you will see continue are:
Mix and Match Metals
I have a lot of clients that still have a tough time with this one and I get it. Plus it isn’t the easiest thing to do and get it right.
Here are a couple pointers:
- Pick a Dominant Finish
- Then choose one or two accent metals but don’t overdue it. Stick to 2 or 3.
- Keep Balance – use your dominant metal more than your accent metals. Use your accent metal at least twice.
- You can mix up the texture of the metal as well. Use a matte or hammered metal to break up too much polished metal.
- You can even use warm and cool tones. Polished brass along side Chrome. Polished copper is a great contrast to stainless steel.
Out of all the trends…..this one is my favorite. I have never been a matchy matchy person and breaking the mold on all metals matching is super exciting to me!
Smart Appliances
I thought my oven was ‘smart’ when I got it seven years ago because it had a sabbath feature. I wasn’t sure what that was but it had it. Now the ‘smartness’ of appliances is out of this world. I actually remember going into the ‘Smart House’ in the futuristic section of Disney World and saw some of these things and thought…no way!!!
Samsung has many smart refrigerators and one comes equipped with Family Hub and Bixby, Samsung’s voice assistant. Family Hub is basically like having a tablet screen built into your fridge door that also works as a memo board, and you can all access it from your phones. Plus, the fridge has a built-in camera, so if you’re ever out at the grocery store wondering if you have enough eggs at home, you can just take a peek inside from your phone. That is so cool in a weird way!
Did you know you can talk to your oven, now too? An electric convection range from GE is just one example—it connects to wifi, so you can set it up to work with your Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Nest, and several other apps for the easiest cooking experience ever.
You can also make your range hood high tech too. One from GE features a guided cooking app built into its smart-touch screen and has dual cameras: one forward-facing to video chat with friends and family about granny’s recipe, and another located above the cooktop for you to livestream your progress. My Mom loved technology and I wish she was still here to see these. She would have loved them!
QuartizeÂ
No…It is not the same as Quartz. Two different things! Quartzite is a natural metamorphic stone formed when sand is heated and compressed within the earth. Quartz contains pieces of ground quartz combined with resin and polymers to create a man-made material that’s pretty and strong.
A couple facts about Quartize:
1) It is more durable than Granite
2) It can look like marble but not scratch.
3) It is less porous than granite thus it doesn’t stain or hold bacteria as easily.
I could write an entire term paper on the differences of quartz and quartzite which I won’t bore you with but do your research. There are great pluses on the Quartz side and great pluses on the Quartize side. Granite really has taken the bottom of the preference factor for most of my clients for years but the call between Quartz and Quartzite are a bit tougher to make.
I think in 2022 you will see more wood in kitchens but I do think the three trends above will be here for a while. If you love the look but you are not sure how to pull it together, look to a professional to help you with your selections.