The kitchen is the hub of the home. We spend so many hours in this room preparing food for ourselves, cooking and baking with the family, or simply chatting with friends over wine late into the night that it is essential that the kitchen is fully functional while still looking beautiful for as long as it will be used.
With the passage of time, a kitchen designed classically and according to traditional styles will look and feel less antiquated than one that follows the trends of the day. A multi-colored modern-day kitchen will be completely out of style in 10 years while one that is designed with a consistent color palette and with an eye for cohesion will look great for decades, if not longer.
For example, many kitchens are now combined with the dining room. This trend is meant to save space in the home, by merging two rooms into one, but having a table and chairs in the middle of the kitchen only serves to take away space to move about the kitchen.
Instead, a kitchen island would serve a similar purpose without causing nearly as much congestion. Islands can be a place to eat, but in addition can also serve as an area to store extra kitchen utensils and supplies, and to set up elaborate self-serve stations for New Year's or Christmas parties.
Two renovations that improve both the longevity and the functionality of the kitchen are cabinet and countertop renovations.
Many cabinets are made with aluminum, thin plywood, or in some cases, glass. Aluminum and thin plywood are often used due to the affordability of the materials, but they do not offer much in terms of longevity or durability.
Glass cabinets, or wooden cabinets with a glass pane, may provide the illusion of a larger and more open kitchen, but they can also make the space seem more cluttered because every utensil pot and pan is on display for all to see.
Using heavy, solid wood cabinet styles instead of thinner and less durable options will provide a satisfying weighty feeling when being used and can be easily matched to the color and design of the rest of the kitchen. Solid wood cabinets may not provide illusions like a glass cabinet does, but it does the same job while keeping a sense of composure and form.
When it comes to countertops, only two options really reign supreme. Stone countertops, such as granite and marble, and quartz countertops look gorgeous in any kitchen and are incredibly durable.
Wooden countertops, for example, will absorb moisture, food flavors, and will stain with extended use. A concrete countertop will be perfectly functional, but will look very industrial and rough around the edges – literally.
A good polished granite or marble countertop is always a standout piece in any kitchen, but recently quartz countertops are becoming more popular. They are usually made with a mix of quartz and granite, and as a result are much harder than granite by itself.
Because of its high durability and resistance to damage in conjunction with its fits-any-kitchen style, it is one of the few modern trends in kitchen design that is destined to last.
When it comes down to it, there are many different ideas out there as to what constitutes a timeless kitchen design, and this is just the beginning.
If your kitchen looks consistent, classic, and is designed with an intention to last without subscribing to every modern trend while making room for the ones that work, it will last for decades and impress both your guests and yourself every time you set foot in it.
