Earlier this year, we weighed the predicted kitchen trends by large organizations against our own notions and field experience. After consulting our vendors (those providing kitchen cabinets and counter tops), we’re providing an update on what we’ve seen hold true this year. The following are our 2020 mid-year kitchen trend updates:
COUNTER TOPS
In our line of work, many of our clients opt for quartz when selecting a counter top material. Quartz is a more sustainable choice compared to real stone products, such as granite. Our counter top vendor has seen 70% of clients select quartz over other materials. Another sustainable product that is garnering attention is porcelain. It is expensive, in comparison to quartz, but it is very durable. Clients are attracted to the fact that porcelain does not scratch.
In terms of color, when selecting quartz, veining has been popular this year. This rings true with predictions from earlier in the year. Although the carrara marble look is still popular, clients have been opting for the heavier veins, similar to what is found in calacatta marble.
Angel of Angel’s Installations shared with us the most popular quartz colors that are being selected through his business this year. These colors include Brittanicca Warm from Cambria, and Avenza, Arezzo and Super White from Pental Quartz.
Cambria – Britannica Warm
Pental Quartz – Avenza
Pental Quartz – Arezzo
Pental Quartz – Super White
CABINET COLORS
Dark Cabinets
Multiple sources deemed dark colored cabinets the trend to watch for in 2020 kitchens. Elle Decor named navy millwork as the most stylish color for cabinets. This doesn’t surprise us, being that Blue is the Pantone color of the year. On the other hand, Homes & Gardens called for adding dark drama to your kitchen by using black. They take it a step further to say this could be the wall color, cabinets or work surfaces. We concured with these design notions as well. With 2019 filling us up with so much white and bright, we definitely expected things to take a dark turn in 2020.
Jennie Showers, our vendor at BKC Kitchen and Bath, confirmed that dark colors have been a popular choice this year. She has seen black or smoke used as the stain color on woods like maple or cherry. She also sees a lot of matte black or walnut selected in contemporary style kitchens. At HS Design Build we have yet to provide an installation with black cabinets, but we have definitely seen blue!
Light Cabinets
This idea goes in the opposite direction of dark drama. We see this trend as an evolution of the bright, stark, white kitchen. It improves upon what doesn’t work in an all white kitchen – all white surfaces are impossible to keep clean in such a heavily used space. As a result, it takes what people loved about it – the brightness and simplicity – and introduces more warmth. Homes & Gardens said to expect to see the resurrection of warm, paler woods used for cabinets, such as a subtle grained ash. Elle Decor noted something similar. They indicated the rise in warm finishes, such as light wood, soft, neutral counter tops and tumbled stone floors.
BKC confirms that light wood has been a popular choice for cabinets this year – particularly in oak and cherry.
Color Pop
If there was one trend to watch for, it was this one. Each source we read declared this as a trend to watch for in 2020 kitchens. Elle Decor and Homes & Gardens said to look for unexpected color pops and unexpected pairings of color. House Beautiful said to expect to see pops of color, particularly in sunny hues and aqua accents. Inspired by mid-century design, they predicted these color pops would be found in tile or as a cabinet color.
BKC confirms this prediction as well. They have seen a lot of color pop used this year, particularly in blues and greens. They noted that eucalyptus has been is a popular choice.
CABINET CONSTRUCTION
Shaker and slab-style doors still remain the most popular door styles for cabinets today. A few variations on these have risen to popularity as well – a slab-style with a edge profile, and a shaker with a bevel.
Read more about the predicted 2020 trends here.