Create the kitchen of your dreams with today's latest trends

There is a reason that the kitchen is considered the heart of the home. It can serve a variety of different purposes, from preparing meals for yourself or your family during the week to entertaining guests on the weekends. It’s a space with a role that is constantly evolving.

With that in mind, your kitchen needs to be equipped to handle a plethora of responsibilities. Everything from the sink to the countertops to the appliances is worth considering, because they all work in concert to determine the look, feel, and function of your kitchen.

By looking at today’s most popular kitchen trends, we can help you figure out what modern features and appliances would best complement your kitchen and serve your needs.

Modern Kitchen Sinks

You may be under the impression that one sink is the same as another, but there are enough variations available to allow for a more distinctive look than your standard sink. Farmhouse sinks are one such example, having returned to favor in recent years.

Beautiful, spacious, and timeless, farmhouse sinks — also known as apron-front sinks — are a highly-coveted kitchen feature. They are available in stainless steel, cast iron, acrylic or solid surfaces and require a special lower base sink cabinet to support them.

Take a closer look at kitchens that have been recently updated or remodeled and you’re likely to notice the addition of a “pot filler” faucet above the stovetop. This swing-out facet on a long, jointed arm effectively serves as a second sink for filling pots that don’t fit in an ordinary sink. Pot fillers also save you from having to lug heavy pots from the sink to the stove.

Many remodels or new constructions reflect a demand for multiple sinks, with one designated for food preparation and the other designated for clean-up.

Kitchen Storage Space

Ease of access is a point of emphasis in the kitchen. Homeowners want to have everything within reach in their kitchen, from spices to dishes. For this very reason, a lot of standard accessory features normally found in wall cabinets are shifting more toward the base units. In that same vein, floating shelves have become a popular alternative to traditional wall cabinets.

Homeowners who still favor traditional storage are opting for tip up cabinets with touch-to-open doors and drawers that are soft close. Peg drawers in base cabinets are a simple but effective storage solution for dishes. These same homeowners are also taking more advantage of the vertical space in their kitchens, looking for wall cabinets in taller sizes. Cabinets that were once commonly seven feet tall now can be eight feet or higher, depending on the ceiling height.

Multi-functional kitchen islands have become a big trend. Islands can function as a food prep area, especially if there is a built-in sink, whereas some can serve as a bar or breakfast area with flexible seating for informal dining. There is certainly the opportunity for storage in the base cabinets of kitchen islands. End panels for islands, including recycled barn boards, are also cropping up all over.

Appliance Drawers

Today’s homeowners covet flexibility when it comes to organizing their kitchen. They want to make the most efficient use of the space they have to work with, which is why “appliance drawers” have become a staple of modern kitchens. Microwaves, refrigerators, and dishwasher drawers are being built into kitchen cabinetry to maximize space.

Undercounter drawer refrigerators are one such example. The primary appeal of undercounter drawer refrigerators is their ability to seamlessly integrate with the surrounding cabinetry, while providing convenient storage space for refrigerated food and beverages.

Warming drawers are a versatile kitchen appliance that can fit under your oven or in an under-the-counter space that affords you more room to cook and prepare your meals. With controllable temperature and humidity, warming drawers can function as slow cookers, fulfilling needs as simple as keeping appetizers warm until they are ready to be served.

Coffee makers with state-of-the-art controls can also be integrated into your cabinetry to open up more counter space and allow for convenient access to your coffee every morning.

Smart Kitchen Appliances

Efficiency and improved functionality have become the driving forces of innovation in today’s kitchen appliances, which has led to a proliferation of “smart features.” Think refrigerators with built-in touch screens, faucets with motion sensors, and smart lighting.

It can be easy to overlook the lighting when you are designing your kitchen. Lighting can add warmth and depth to your kitchen. It is important to consider how to best distribute your overhead lighting and even where you place the light switches.

Clearly today’