Design experts are always thinking about the future, in attempts to predict (and plan for) what will be big. If you talk to a design pro, most will admit that, thanks to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the future of America’s kitchens actually looks a lot different than what they imagined just a few years ago. And now, thanks to the shifting needs of homeowners who continue to work and cook at home, kitchens have been undergoing major changes within the last two years.
One area that interior designers have taken special interest in: the ol’ oven/stove/hood. Here are some fresh new design concepts becoming reality in 2022.
Signature Kitchen Suite Ranges
Matthew Quinn of Design Galleria Kitchen and Bath Studio foresees more “signature kitchen suite ranges that offer multiple cooking methods, such as sous-vide, induction, gas, steam and convection.” (Sous-vide is the technique of cooking vacuum-sealed bags of food in a water bath. Induction cooktops heat pots and pans directly, rather than on gas or electrically heated elements. Both allow precise heat control.) Designer David Cook adds that he is seeing a lot of interest in having both gas and induction cooking options in current and future kitchens.
Designer Range Hoods
Skip the stainless range hood, advises Kate Lester of Kate Lester Interiors. For an on-trend kitchen, “We like to use a range hood insert and then design a custom hood around it. You can use plaster, shiplap or other wood trim detailing to create a focal point that is an additional design element in the kitchen.” White shiplap can add interest to a modern or farmhouse-style kitchen.
Hoods With Sconces
Instead of installing cabinets beside your kitchen hood, Mary Kathryn Timoney suggests using sconces on one or both sides so the space will look less crowded. Flanking the hood with sconces versus wall cabinets also provides “a more artful approach to a hood,” and provides a touch of soft light, she says. Consider wall-mounted sconces or fixtures with swing arms that can be adjusted for a better view of countertops and cooking surfaces.
Split, Single Ovens
Convection ovens can roast, bake, slow cook and dehydrate. A convection steam oven adds water and turns it into steam to help keep foods moist. While convection ovens have been popular in Europe for years, designers say steam appliances are now being installed in more and more American kitchens. Mary Kathryn Timoney recommends installing split, single ovens instead of double ovens to clients who decide to introduce a convection steam oven to their appliance mix. Split ovens, she says, keep the kitchen looking symmetrical.
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