A large number of the talks I have given during the first part of 2011 have dealt with current and emerging trends in kitchen design. Some of the current trends are continuations of trends that have been in place for five years or more and others are relatively new. An examination of the current state-of-the-kitchen for the past twelve months reveals some interesting facts. For example: in 2010, 75% of the custom kitchen cabinets made were considered to be traditional; the remainder was either transitional or contemporary. 2010 saw cherry as the most popular wood but maple is expected to outstrip cherry in 2011. This information, of course, relies on data reported by participating cabinet shops and kitchen designers but given the large number of industry participants the figures should be viewed as reliable. There is, however, a question of terms. What exactly is meant by the words “traditional,” “contemporary” or “transitional” when applied to kitchen design? The fact of the matter is that – strictly applied – a traditional kitchen in the first half of the twentieth century would have had a fairly uniform appearance from one house to the next without regard for the overall style or architecture of the house. Also – contemporary is only contemporary to the time in which it occurs. Generally speaking, the present use of the word “traditional” when applied to kitchen design is referring to some sort of design parallel to a finished interior that includes a noticeable level of architectural ornamentation – and the ornamentation includes pieces from the standard stock of embellishments that are historically associated with more formal rooms such as entrance halls or perhaps libraries. The word “contemporary” presently implies an absence of milled ornamentation or an emphasis on line versus embellishment. “Transitional” design is an attempt to pleasantly use elements from both of the other categories. A transitional kitchen design, for example, might well include finely milled and embellished cabinets but make no effort whatsoever to disguise the appliances behind cabinet fronts.
The interesting point is that this discussion of traditional-contemporary is now becoming a sixty year-old conversation that was begun in the 1950s as a result of the introduction of the eat-in kitchen concept that itself was made possible because of advances in heating, cooling and ventilation. Be that as it may, the present day discussion includes – as mentioned earlier – some continuations of long-term trends as well as some genuinely new ideas. One enduring trend – one that goes back to the 1990s – is the continuing design conceit of designing the kitchen island to be visually independent from the rest of the kitchen cabinet work. In the 1990s this was achieved by finishing the island differently: the island itself often carried the same millwork as the cabinets. At the present, however, the millwork and the finish on kitchen islands vary from the design of the perimeter cabinetwork.
Another continuing trend – about five years old – is the idea of giving built-in cabinet work the appearance of freestanding furniture. This is achieved by applying cabinet height or
Creating the appearance of furniture; Island with notching and legs. (Designer's Notebook: Kitchen & Bath Design News March '11)
island height legs to the fronts of cabinets or by installing furniture feet in the toe kick area. The same application of legs is done with kitchen islands, and islands often use an exaggerated depth in the toe-kick area to build on the appearance of a freestanding chest.
Although bar height dining spaces continue to be included in many kitchen designs, the strong emerging trend for the past five years has been either to replace them with – or at least include – table height dining. This is often attached to the end of the kitchen island and – using the current desire for the appearance of furniture – uses dining table legs to create the appearance of a table pushed up against the end of the island.
Notching counter surfaces and then setting furniture legs below the notches has been seen for two or three years now. Originally seen on the four corners of islands, this design is now used on the running counter areas to good effect. Step-outs with notch emphasized corners are used in front of the sink or to visually reinforce the cooktop area.
One of the sub-categories of traditional design that currently appears in shelter magazines is “cottage” style kitchens. This term does not have a single agreed-upon application but it appears to be used to describe a kitchen of normal proportions
Shelves on simple brackets in place of upper cabinets ("Simple Country Kitchens" This Old House - April '11
that is taking a number of its design cues from 1940s kitchens – either real or imagined. These kitchens often follow the traditional “U” arrangement with an island in the center. Milled cabinet pieces such as simple wood brackets with ogee profiles – with only simple routing at most or with no carving at all – are used strategically below the upper cabinets. Exaggerated overhangs on islands often receive the same simple brackets. In some instances, several – or all – of the upper cabinets are replaced by open shelves that are supported either by plain wood brackets or by metal brackets. In the cottage kitchen designs, metal brackets are often coordinated to the drawer pull hardware with the result that chrome and aluminum metals – long associated with contemporary design – are now appearing in work that is considered traditional.
One final, strong trend that has been seen for at least three years is the use – in larger kitchens – of a large cabinet that is compose of a counter height surface flanked by two cabinet towers. The upper cabinets over the counter surface most often have doors with glass panels with the tower doors are solid. This piece of furniture appears to be inspired by 1920s or early 1930s kitchen cabinets but is actually an attractive adaptation of the cabinet design used in butler’s pantries during that period. Cabinets based on these designs are being included in large kitchens in a variety of creative ways. One of the most interesting uses is that of a baking station.
On the mechanical and functional side of kitchens: energy efficiency and “green” continue to be the buzzwords at exhibitions. On the high-end appliance side, the inclusion of built-in coffee systems has become almost expected. Light fixtures that are situated over kitchen islands are getting larger and more prominent: the row of three to five small pendant lights over an island definitely has a dated appearance now. As far as actual layout of the kitchen goes: there is a trend toward designing a compact kitchen within the larger kitchen – a space where the relationship between the stove, sink, and storage is compressed even though the overall space is large. There is also a new trend toward creating an informal scullery area that is away from the food prep area. This space is frequently designed to perform double duty. It can be pressed into service for clean up during large scale entertaining.
was on the throne. It is highly unlikely, however, that the Pilgrims themselves possessed a Jacobean dining table because dining tables as such did not exist at this point. They very likely served the meal from boards laid across trestles. Popular furniture pieces that did exist — such as stools, small tables and chests — were most often made of oak. As Jacobean is a stylistic extension of Elizabethan, variations on earlier legs were favored including turned legs that terminate in a gradual tapering that is usually called a trumpet leg. In the early seventeenth century these usually concluded on simple square block feet. Later examples would finish on bun feet.
t or ball-and-claw feet. By mid-century, accommodating additional guests would have not been a problem for the Lincolns as rack-and-pinion table extenders designed specifically for use on round tables would have become commonly available.
years from now we will be celebrating the 400th anniversary of the first Thanksgiving. What kind of table will you be using? At Osborne Wood Products we offer you everything you need to create a fabulous table on which to enjoy a festive meal. Begin by selecting a table apron set from us. Then select a leg from among our inventory of over thirty dining table legs – each available in more than ten wood types – in order to build a dining table that can become a treasured heirloom. You can choose to replicate a style that was popular at any point in the last four centuries or create something entirely new by designing your own leg.
