No matter the season, kitchens are invariably the gathering place of a home. Sure, you may try to establish a traffic pattern that encourages guests to chat in the living room, but does anyone ever want to put space between themselves and food?
Thankfully, kitchens have come a long way from the closed off floor plan that seemed to reign in past decades. Now, with the help of freestanding islands, your culinary haven is also the center to entertain in. Add a few trendy, aesthetically pleasing touches, and you and your guests won’t ever want to leave.
No More Knobs
It may not seem like much, but parting ways with cabinet hardware can dramatically update your kitchen. This, in part, is because to successfully pull this off, you’ll need entirely new cabinetry. To completely forgo hardware such as knobs or handles, you’ll clearly still need another system in place to get to all of your dishes and goods.
For a raw wood cabinet, consider a wood pull. This simply appears like an extension of the door or drawer, whether it is affixed horizontally or vertically. A second option is to purchase cabinets with designed cutouts. This generally looks best with rectangular cutouts, but if your space is geometrically gifted, try a circular or triangular cutout design. Whatever you choose, choose carefully. No one wants to reinstall cabinets on a regular basis.
Out In The Open
If you are Type A, this one’s for you. Open shelving is having a moment, and while it looks beautiful when executed correctly, the trend leaves no room for clutter. It seems like we’re always seeing lovely Instagram photos of kitchens with an open shelf or two, serving as both a home to dishes and a decorative accent. A nice bonus if you’re not Type A – this style forces you to stay organized.
Free, Freestanding
No man is an island, but your kitchen island can sustain the weight of entertaining for you. But, not all kitchen islands were created equal. Freestanding, footed islands have the ability to give your kitchen an airy, flexible feel while also adding to your counter and eating space. However, if you prefer islands to house the kitchen sink, this look is likely not for you. If you’re especially into entertaining and hosting, consider extending the island to include seating. Lately, the sky is the limit with bar seating around an island.