Do you care about design trends?

In my years as a kitchen designer I have come to realize that few homeowners are concerned with trends in the design industry. As shocking as it seems to a designer the whole world does not revolve around the latest kitchen faucet shape or particular stain color for the cabinets.

Just as with fashion, if you work in the industry you develop the misconceived idea that ‘everyone’ cares about the 10 things that you think are important this year. If you sit in the center of a shopping mall or walk through city streets you will observe that most people dress in a way that has nothing at all to do with the looks in the latest fashion magazine. They are happy to wear something comfortable, affordable and similar to everyone else. I don’t believe most people want to stand out in a crowd, they want to blend in and not have the responsibility of being a trendsetter or trend follower.

The same is true for home design. When I help homeowners make choices for their entire home I am always surprised how many of them are satisfied just to have the standard builder kitchen with no upgrades.’The standard is fine’ they say. It is just not worth it to them to spend any money on upgrades in the kitchen.

There are trends that add to the quality of your life such as Eco friendly products. There are trends that add to your housework such as stainless steel appliances. Most trends are in response to the emotions of society as a whole, whether they know it or not. Right now it seems we are into simplifying life and reusing and recycling to make the world a better place. This translates into natural finishes and textures and colors from nature.

So why pay attention to design trends? I suggest it only works for you if you find a trend that you feel comfortable with. If you like a simple, rustic feeling in your home you might like the modern country look that is really a different style from the ‘ceramic rooster’ country look of earlier times. If you love a white kitchen but do not want it to look like your grandmother’s kitchen search through magazines to find a combination that will work for you in a more modern way.

There really is nothing new in kitchen design; it is just recycled in a different way each time. The important thing is that it works for you and your lifestyle. Look for the design trend that fits your ideas to ensure you end up with a kitchen that looks current but reflects your own style.

I hope my site helps you with these decisions.

Yvonne