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TOP 2021 KITCHEN TRENDS WITH LONG-LASTING STYLE
Laura Muller, Founder, Owner and Creative Director of FOUR POINT DESIGN shares her thoughts and ideas on WHAT TO EXPECT in 2021 in kitchen design, with a focus on long lasting style!
ARTICLE EXCERPT
“After a tumultuous year, design experts share a reason to look forward to the future: warm, welcoming kitchens with staying power. For the better part of 2020, many of us spent more time at home than ever before, and the ways in which we cook, entertain, work and relax in our homes changed significantly. Now, the look and function of kitchens are changing, too. We asked industry experts to share what’s on the horizon for this hardworking space in 2021. Hygiene and cleanliness will be a top priority in kitchen designs while flexibility for multiple tasks and users remains important. See which finishes, fixtures, colors and appliances will be popular 2021 kitchen trends…” – Kristina McGuirk, Author and Better Homes & Gardens Contributor
“Select a soft, light, neutral palette to encourage the eye to scan with ease throughout the space,” says Laura Muller, CEO and principal designer at Four Point Design. Minimizing paint color contrast between the trim, walls and ceilings will open up the room. She suggests matte or brushed finishes to complete the overall softness—and don’t forget the biophilic accents, such as an indoor herb garden.
COVID-19 encouraged many homeowners to bring the inside outdoors in 2020—and 2021 will be returning the favor. One of the key design elements in this year’s kitchens will be a visual and physical connection to the outdoors. Muller specifically says bifold doors and larger windows, especially windows that almost sit on the countertop, will be used to promote a “more stylish and less obtrusive view.” It’s also functional: these windows and doors enable fresh air flow, a desirable trend resulting from the pandemic.
Muller admits these can be costly changes. One way to work toward the same effect without an architectural upgrade? “Trade in your heavy window treatments for organic linen or soft woven shades in a simple design,” she says.
Muller also emphasizes that this style celebrates the versatility of materials that are organic, nature-inspired (wood-look flooring, for example), and environmentally conscious, such as energy-efficient light fixtures. “No longer is ‘natural and organic’ exclusively synonymous with a bohemian and earthy vibe,” she says. “Today’s finishes are luxurious, sleek, modern, and fit with almost any design style and budget imaginable.”