2010 Kitchen Trends

Investing in a home is something that every generation considers the next step after college or university, or when planning to get married. Buying a home of your own is one of the biggest investments you will ever make and will increase in value over time.

 

A wise homeowner knows that constant maintenance and improvements will ensure that their homes continue to keep up with the trends. The two most important areas to focus on when planning to improve a home are the kitchen and bathroom - as these rooms guarantee a return on any investment spent - when funds are spent wisely.

With the advent of the Internet, South African homeowners can head out on the superhighway to find the latest designs and offerings, and this is made easier by the fact that many global brand leaders are in fact bringing products to South Africa to cater for local tastes.

Whilst functionality and aesthetics were once the only prerequisites of kitchen design, today they are merely the first step. More attention is being given to ergonomic workflow principles such as determining the heights of base units, worktops and wall units.

As the kitchen increasingly becomes the focal point of a home, and connected to the living spaces through open-plan layouts, designers frequently marry the kitchen and living areas and treat them as one space incorporating ceilings, floors and wall areas. Since the objective is to merge these into one main living area, the quality and style of furnishings and cabinetry should be complementary.

Technology in manufacturing is improving, and high-tech spray and powder methodology has resulted in a wider range of finishes such as hitech plastic, aluminum, exotic wood finishes and stainless steel that blend successfully together. The result is a kitchen designed to last and maintain value.

Another extremely important design consideration is to provide adequate storage in the form of cupboards, drawers or shelving removes clutter. Modern kitchen design sees cupboards installed above the worktop with a range of drawers under the bench. A well-planned kitchen incorporates in-drawer and in-cupboard organisational systems. These organisational systems manage everything from groceries and pantry goods to cutlery, plates and cookware. Flexibility is the key, with each system installed to suit the individual requirements of the homeowners.

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