by Lee Tripi

-reprinted from Cary Magazine, February 2005

We expect much more from our kitchens today than we ever did just ten years ago. They must function like a machine, a tool for the modern chef, act as the venue for all of our partying guests, and built well enough to withstand the rigors of daily cooking and weekend entertainment. Additionally, and even for those who rarely cook, it has beome a place for relaxing and attending to tasks unrelated to food preparation.  For those who renovating or having a new home built, that has to be fashionable, reflecting the style of the homeowner, as well as affordable.

Given these current demands, the kitchen industry has also identified three important trends in residential construction which, in fact, has shifted dramatically just within the last few years. The challenge has been to match the homeowner’s requirements with the shifts within the building industry.

 First, we’re seeing a huge demand across the US for second homes and retirement homes, where owners feel like they now have an opportunity to get exactly what they always dreamed of. They desire amenities such as modern European cabinetry, restaurant quality cooktops and technology that does everything from make your coffee to dispensing your wine on demand. In North Carolina, housing communities are booming at the coast and in the mountains. Building around inland waterways in areas such as the Outer Banks, New Bern, Beaufort and Morehead City is exploding. We’re also seing the same phenomena for those who desire the rarefied air in Asheville, Boone, Cashiers and Waynesville.

Secondly, for those of us who toil in the metropolitan areas and educate our kids there, we’re witnessing a keen interest by city planners and developers to design infrastructure to encourage urban density, with the idea of slowing suburban sprawl. As a result, residential lofts, high-rise condominiums and custom designed in-fill homes are being built within city limits.

Thirdly, the big buzz now is building with eco-friendly materials, sustainable and “green” materials. LEED certifications are sought by many practitioners within the design and building industry. Product manufacturers, designers and contractors are recognizing that natural resources have a limit and that some current materials can be damaging to the environment and , as such, many are responding to the demand for eco-logical design. Many will jump on the bandwagon simply because the market will demand it. In a few short years, green building will be a standard practice.

 What These Variables Mean to You

It is true that Americans are spending are spending more money than ever on improving the kitchen, but are they really getting more for their money? Even claims of “custom designed” kitchens are simply modified versions of the same cabinetry basic domestic cabinet that’s been around forever. Putting a flat slab door on a traditional cabinet does not make it modern and fully accessible.

The Cabinets

A few kitchen companies see an opportunity and has responded to these trends by engineering cabinetry to function easier ans styling with a more sophisticated aesthetic. We’re designing pantries floor to ceiling pantries with sliding doors made to look like shoji and wall cabinets with flip-up hydraulic bi-fold doors that reveal usable space inside without obstructing it. Base cabinets with drawers in lieu of hinged doors allowing the user to more comfortably access the contents without crouching down to find that frying pan.

We’re starting to take notice of kitchen design outside the US. The Italians have understood the need to live in the present with beautiful contemporary design. The Japanese have mastered imaginative use of space and the Germans have contributed superior engineering and hardware to the modern kitchen cabinet. The result is simple, sleek and modern. Harmoniously mixing aesthetics with function is now the objective. A smart appearance isn’t a luxurious add-on, but rather an integral element in the way it performs for the inhabitant. Ergonomic design is the hallmark of modern design.

Appliances

The list of amenities for the kitchen continues with the latest advancement in appliances. An entire book can be dedicated to the technological advances in kitchen appliances that have occurred within just the last few years. Built in coffee/espresso machines, exhaust hoods, electric radiant cooktops with induction technology just to name a few. We’ve specifying drawer style dishwashers and refrigerators designed to maximize space in the smaller home, loft, apartment, and yacht. This trend will continue as manufacturers feel the demand for appliances that use less energy and acquire a LEED certification as green.

Countertops

The enormous popularity of granite countertops is starting to wane. Stone is a limited resource, and for that reason awareness of environmental concerns among those considering countertops of sustainable content. The terrazzo countertop, made of an aggregate of recycled glass, epoxy and concrete offer a viable option for those not only wanting an eco-friendly material, but also desire something different.

The introduction of eco-extremeconcrete by MeldUSA in Raleigh, NC is another fine example of a green product. The product contains up to 70% post consumer and waste material. In addition to recycled glass, other by product materials include fly ash, marble chips, metal shaving including copper and aluminum, and electronic parts.

Lighting

With all of the tasks we ask our kitchens to perform, the way in which it is lighted becomes critical. Lighting is probably the most important element and yet most overlooked in the design of the kitchen. The beauty of rich wood grain or lacquered cabinet drawer and door front is enhanced by the true color rendering of halogen lighting. The advanced technology of LED and fiber optic accent lighting is now being utilized to display a backsplash or the interior of a glass door cabinet. Lighted exterior shelving is also available  Correct lighting should bring forth the beauty of the elements of the kitchen while at the same time provide for relaxing environment.

 If we’re spending the majority of our active time in the kitchens of our homes, it stands to reason that we’re investing our discretionary dollars into our Mecca where we gather to cook, eat and socialize. A kitchen not only provides much enjoyment to the home owner while inhabiting it, but also can gain a significant return on the investment when the decision is made to sell.

The kitchen is the heart and soul of the house, so have your kitchen designed to please yourself and to welcome friends and family.