Serving Up Style

There’s no doubt that the kitchen is the beating heart of any household, where families gather to prepare meals and where guests linger at parties.

But, if your space isn’t up to snuff, it may be time for a few design tweaks or even a wholesale renovation.

We spoke to Adam Canter, president of Distinctive Kitchens & Baths in Boca Raton, for his insight into keeping your kitchen in style this season. 

But First, Coffee

“I’m seeing more and more people who want a designated coffee station in their kitchen,” Canter says. Drawer systems to hold coffee pods and dividers that hold stirrers and sweeteners have also popped up. “Even having an espresso machine in the kitchen seems to be becoming more and more popular now,” he says. 

Power Up

As open concept layouts become more prevalent, so, too, does the “power wall,” Canter says. “We take all of the tall items – like the refrigerators, tall pantry cabinets, the oven cabinets, all those items – and stack them all together to put all the weight and all the heaviness on the one wall,” he says. Then, another wall houses wall cabinets and cooking surfaces. 

Go Big

Large kitchen islands are a huge trend right now, Canter says. And, if there’s more than one, even better. One island could be for prep, with a dishwasher and a sink, for example, and the other for seating.  “The space that was typically in the past used as the breakfast area has become more of an extension of the kitchen,” he says. 

Flatter Is Fabulous

“The staple for many years was a raised-panel cabinet door. That trend has completely gone by the wayside,” Canter says. Instead, there’s a trend toward clean lines, with flat center panels that have a little visual interest but aren’t ornate. He also prefers cabinetry in solid colors like espresso, frappe and greige versus stains. 

Make A (Back)splash

Cleaner backsplashes are in vogue now, too, Canter says, with a tendency toward geometric, glass or oversize subway tile over stone. And, because kitchens are more open, the backsplash is now considered an important focal point. O