Kitchens: what will be the next trend?

[LakieLady]

We're going to have a new kitchen next year and, as we hope to sell up and move within the next couple of years, want to put in something that will be attractive to buyers rather than what we would choose for ourselves.

I think we have reached peak grey, so that will look dated by the time we sell, and doubt my ability to keep a high gloss finish free of fingermarks, so prefer a painted finish.

What does the MN hive mind think will be the next kitchen trend?

Kitchen is 16' x 10', and not very light, as the garden is higher than the house, iyswim.

I think matt black will be the next trend

I can highly recommend matte white coloured units, white tiling and very dark walls.
I’ve just done this, with a floor to ceiling purple-black matte on the walls. Even the coving and woodwork trim was painted. It’s made the tiny kitchen look ginormous! We’ve lost all the edges. House feels Georgian!

Thanks for all the ideas. Given how dark it is, I think light and neutral and boring is the way to go, but with a painted finish so it's easy for someone else to paint over the colour if they feel more adventurous.

I’ve been thinking about how Covid might affect design and I wonder if things that look more obviously clean might become more in fashion (hopefully short lived!) so light colours, simple infused designs, no clutter. Also it read on the bbc that copper has properties that makes it safer in terms of virus transmission so maybe we will see more copper handles...etc. I also agree with the suggestion that people will want vibrant colours in there too. I think a mix of white and natural wood and copper will start to be more fashionable. I am also in the no shelves camp! Look great but we’d never manage to keep them neat or clean enough

No idea what a simple infused design is! I think I just meant simple and plain, not idea where infused cake from

Apparently bright 70 s colours will be next - tangerine and yellow. It’s always the opposite of what’s now, it seems , so we spend more! Would stick to some sort of classic as outer posters mention

Also it seems to take about 5 years from being in high end house and gardens type mags to b and q, tho that seems to be speeding up.

I would go for white it can be changed with a bit of colour.

Plywood unpainted but matte varnished doors

Free standing units, all wood, preferably "reclaimed" or "upcycled". I don't think that's a good idea but I expect it will be trendy.

Mortgage notwithstanding. Possibly a single fitted cupboard to keep the lenders happy, I'm guessing the issue was them arguing it didn't have a kitchen.

I don't ever follow any trends at all, I like countrystyle kitchens,that look all homely. I tend to have cream, and barley corn colours, and have a few fresh green hanging plants around, and my three cats who all sit in the window ( they are all ginger and white, and match everything!)

[quote EmpressoftheMundane]**@Hingeandbracket* and @bridgetreilly*

Kitchens don’t last forever. Appliances break and get to the point they cannot be fixed. Cupboards breakdown and can’t always be mended. Taps leak, etc.

A decent kitchen will last about 15 years. Most people will be getting annoyed with all the things starting to fall apart and break down and put in a new kitchen somewhere between 15 and 20 years.

Because people know they will keep a kitchen for a long time, they want something flexible and timeless and not already starting to look dated.[/quote]
That seems rather low. My kitchen was build in the 1930s and while it's had the counter replaced and appliances, and some new knobs, it's never been just ripped out.

The short life of modern kitchens is about planned obsolescence and a created drive in consumers to following fashions.

In general I think the kitchen should be based on the era and architecture of the house. I'd go for something fairly low-key but following that principle if I was looking to sell.

Though people don't usually recoup kitchen reno costs so that's worth thinking about.

You can't go wrong with white. It will never not be "in style"

I was torn between light grey (changed my mind now after reading this thread) and the attached images. I’m ordering on Friday, so if anyone has reasons why the attached will be awful please let me know ASAP

We've doubled the size of our kitchen but haven't put a new one in yet. What's left of the old one is just HIDEOUS with one of those bloody tiny 50s sort of ovens with a grill at nose level and i can't wait to drop kick the effing thing into the drive! We're re- organising the location of everything (even the doors) and DH has left the whole thing up to me to chose. You might imagine it's fun but actually i feel SO out of my depth at the moment. I'm terrified of getting it wrong.

That website linked to right at the top of the thread by @RealityExistsInTheHumanMind which changes the colour of the units on the same photo is REALLY helpful. You can see instantly exactly how much illusion of space and light you sacrifice when you go for colour.

My question to everyone having new kitchens with wall cupboards at the mo is: What have you done about the gap between the cupboards and the ceiling? IME in other houses it's always been a horror show up there with dust and grease and sometimes things bunged up there to forget about Has anyone closed the gap? Was it easy?

@countdowntonap you sound about as sure as i am about what you want. ie: not at all!

I always think everyone elses kitchens look lovely. It's nice to see different styles and tastes. But i DREAD spending £££££ with DH going ''are you sure. are you sure ....'' and then me not liking it at the end !

TBH I think trying to keep up with kitchen trends is a bit of a mug’s game!

I would go for something very neutral which won't date. I think white can look quite stark so maybe cream. I've just moved into a new build & our cupboards are matt (last house were gloss which were a nightmare to keep clean) & I think the colour was cashmere. It can look very light grey or very light beige in different lights. Then you & a new buyer can accessorise to add colour. I also think these navy/green kitchens will look dated really quickly & if I was a new buyer & knew the kitchen was only a couple of years old, I wouldn't want to be changing it for a long while.

In a dark room would go white painted - def not grey - maybe cream although sometimes that can be dingy...depening on teh light ... diy kitchens used to be able to just get doors to check....

I'm not a fan of gloss as am lazy - we ended up with painted shaker style from diy as wanted specific colours..........wanted in frame but do nt have the space and are clumsy so just figured would bash the frames more...

our room is v light/bright so have blue lower and white upper - always wanted a a blue kitchen :) - and suits our layout..

possibly a pale blue painted if you want 'light' and a bit of freshness / character as well...

also think of worktop /flooring - I wanted quartz but ran out of money spent on skylight/cooker instead... so ended up with white sparkly laminate and am very happy with it its indestructible!
we have bamboo flooring and didnt want wood worktop in case the colours clashed

@countdowntonap that looks lovely but we have those handles on our drawers and they're a nightmare to keep clean!

Often buyers want to change the kitchen and bathroom when they buy a new house, so get something light and cheerful that will help you sell. You can pick up almost new kitchens on e bay where a new buyer has had current (new kitchen installed for quick sale) good quality kitchen not to their taste removed. We bought an expensive brand kitchen for £500 that would have cost £15000 in the showroom. Just remember to measure carefully and buy a bigger kitchen than you need because you can always cut it down to fit.

@Laiste we wanted to close the gap due to dust and grease etc, we realised with the help of the kitchen fitter it just wouldn't look right and also I would never reach them! I'm 5ft 4 so of an average height and still on my tips toes with them at the recommended height

Agree @Goosefoot. Sadly most of us inherit a mid range kitchen from the previous owner. And they just don’t last. Chip board cabinets break down etc. An original 1930s kitchen would be amazing.

I'm planning a new kitchen next year, so reading with interest. We fitted our current kitchen in 1996; maple Shaker style, with grey worktop. It cost £6k all done, I remember. 🙂

This time, I'm adamant I want flat doors as I hate the dust/grease trap on doors with 'frames'.
I want drawers under the hob and I want my fridge and oven at high level, not under counter as they are now.

What finish is best for not showing finger marks? I've seen painted matte and a gloss kitchen recently and both showed finger marks... 🤨

Colour wise, I quite like the cashmere that a PP mentioned. My kitchen is bright with a huge window that runs practically along one wall, so I'm lucky there, lots of natural daylight.

I like the sound of the LED panel for lighting and will investigate!

Am wondering about worktops, if I had pale (depending on unit colour, obviously) I'd be worried about DH spilling curry on it and it staining...